GeraltofRiviaisawitcher.Acunningsorcerer.Amercilessassassin.
Andacold-bloodedkiller.
Hissolepurpose:todestroythemonstersthatplaguetheworld.
Butnoteverythingmonstrous-lookingisevilandnoteverythingfairis
good...andineveryfairytalethereisagrainoftruth.
OceanofPDF.com
2
AndrzejSapkowski
Thelastwish
TheWitcher:1
ePubr1.0
Watcher25.03.17
3
Originaltitle:Ostatnieżyczenie
AndrzejSapkowski,1993
Translator:DanusiaStok
Coverdesign:Watcher
Digitaleditor:Watcher
ePubbaser1.2
4
THEVOICEOFREASON
5
I
Shecametohimtowardmorning.
Sheenteredverycarefully,movingsilently,floatingthroughthechamber
like a phantom; the only sound was that of her mantle brushing her naked
skin.Yetthisfaintsoundwasenoughtowakethewitcher—ormaybeitonly
torehimfromthehalf-slumberinwhichherockedmonotonously,asthough
traveling through fathomless depths, suspended between the seabed and its
calmsurfaceamidgentlyundulatingstrandsofseaweed.
Hedidnotmove,didnotstir.Thegirlflittedcloser,threwoffhermantle
and slowly, hesitantly, rested her knee on the edge of the large bed. He
observedherthroughloweredlashes,stillnotbetrayinghiswakefulness.The
girlcarefullyclimbedontothebedclothes,andontohim,wrappingherthighs
around him. Leaning forward on straining arms, she brushed his face with
hairwhichsmelledofchamomile.Determined,andasifimpatient,sheleaned
over and touched his eyelids, cheeks, lips with the tips of her breasts. He
smiled, very slowly, delicately, grasping her by the shoulders, and she
straightened, escaping his fingers. She was radiant, luminous in the misty
brillianceofdawn.Hemoved,butwithpressurefrombothhands,sheforbade
himtochangepositionand,withalightbutdecisivemovementofherhips,
demandedaresponse.
Heresponded.Shenolongerbackedawayfromhishands;shethrewher
head back,shook her hair. Her skin was cool and surprisingly smooth. Her
eyes,glimpsedwhen herfacecameclose tohis,werehuge and darkasthe
eyesofawaternymph.
Rocked,hesankintoaseaofchamomileasitgrewagitatedandseethed.
6
THEWITCHER
7
I
Later,itwassaidthemancamefromthenorth,fromRopersGate.Hecame
onfoot, leading his laden horse by the bridle. It was late afternoon and the
ropers’,saddlers’andtanners’stallswerealreadyclosed,thestreetempty.It
was hot but the man had a black coat thrown over his shoulders. He drew
attentiontohimself.
He stopped infront of theOld Narakort Inn, stood there for amoment,
listenedtothehubbubofvoices.Asusual,atthishour,itwasfullofpeople.
Thestrangerdid not entertheOldNarakort. He pulledhishorsefarther
downthestreettoanothertavern,asmallerone,calledTheFox.Notenjoying
thebestofreputations,itwasalmostempty.
The innkeeper raised his head above a barrel of pickled cucumbers and
measuredthemanwithhisgaze.Theoutsider,stillinhiscoat,stoodstifflyin
frontofthecounter,motionlessandsilent.
“Whatwillitbe?”
“Beer,”saidthestranger.Hisvoicewasunpleasant.
Theinnkeeperwipedhishandsonhiscanvasapronandfilledachipped
earthenwaretankard.
Thestrangerwasnotoldbuthishairwasalmostentirelywhite.Beneath
hiscoatheworeawornleatherjerkinlacedupattheneckandshoulders.
Ashetookoffhiscoatthosearoundhimnoticedthathecarriedasword—
notsomethingunusualinitself,nearlyeverymaninWyzimcarriedaweapon
—but no onecarried a swordstrapped to hisback as ifit were abow or a
quiver.
Thestrangerdidnotsitatthetablewiththefewotherguests.Heremained
standingatthecounter,piercingtheinnkeeperwithhisgaze.Hedrewfrom
thetankard.
“I’mlookingforaroomforthenight.”
“There’snone,”gruntedtheinnkeeper,lookingattheguest’sboots,dusty
anddirty.“AskattheOldNarakort.”
“Iwouldratherstayhere.”
“Thereis none.” The innkeeper finally recognizedthe strangers accent.
HewasRivian.
“I’ll pay.” The outsiderspoke quietly, as ifunsure, and the wholenasty
affair began. A pockmarked beanpole of a man who, from the moment the
outsider had entered had not taken his gloomy eyes from him, got up and
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approached the counter. Two of his companions rose behind him, no more
thantwopacesaway.
“There’s no room to be had, you Rivian vagabond,” rasped the
pockmarkedman,standingrightnexttotheoutsider.“Wedon’tneedpeople
likeyouinWyzim.Thisisadecenttown!”
The outsider took his tankard and moved away. He glanced at the
innkeeper,whoavoidedhiseyes.Itdidnotevenoccurtohimtodefendthe
Rivian.Afterall,wholikedRivians?
“All Rivians are thieves,” the pockmarked man went on, his breath
smellingofbeer,garlicandanger.“Doyouhearme,youbastard?”
“He can’thear you. Hisears are fullof shit,” saidone of themen with
him,andthesecondmancackled.
“Payandleave!”yelledthepockedman.
OnlynowdidtheRivianlookathim.
“I’llfinishmybeer.”
“We’ll give you a hand,” the pockmarked man hissed. He knocked the
tankard from the strangers hand and simultaneously grabbing him by the
shoulder,dughisfingersintotheleatherstrapwhichrandiagonallyacrossthe
outsiders chest. One of the men behind him raised a fist to strike. The
outsider curled up on the spot, throwing the pockmarked man off balance.
Theswordhissedinitssheathandglistenedbrieflyinthedimlight.Theplace
seethed. There was a scream, and one of the few remaining customers
tumbledtowardtheexit.Achairfellwithacrashandearthenwaresmacked
hollowly against the floor. The innkeeper, his lips trembling, looked at the
horriblyslashedfaceofthepockedman,who,clingingwithhisfingerstothe
edgeofthecounter,wasslowlysinkingfromsight.Theothertwowerelying
on the floor, one motionless, the other writhing and convulsing in a dark,
spreadingpuddle. A woman’s hysterical scream vibrated in the air, piercing
theearsastheinnkeepershuddered,caughthisbreath,andvomited.
Thestrangerretreatedtowardthewall,tenseandalert.Heheldthesword
inbothhands,sweepingthebladethroughtheair.Noonemoved.Terror,like
coldmud,wasclearontheirfaces,paralyzinglimbsandblockingthroats.
Three guards rushed into the tavern with thuds and clangs. They must
have been close by. They had truncheons wound with leather straps at the
ready,butatthesightofthecorpses,drewtheirswords.TheRivianpressed
his back against the wall and, with his left hand, pulled a dagger from his
boot.
“Throw that down!” one of the guards yelled with a trembling voice.
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“Throwthatdown,youthug!You’recomingwithus!”
ThesecondguardkickedasidethetablebetweenhimselfandtheRivian.
“Gogetthemen,Treska!”heshoutedtothethirdguard,whohadstayed
closertothedoor.
“Noneed,”saidthestranger,loweringhissword.“I’llcomebymyself.”
“You’llgo,yousonofabitch,ontheendofarope!”yelledthetrembling
guard.“ThrowthatsworddownorI’llsmashyourheadin!”
TheRivianstraightened. He quicklypinnedhisbladeunder his leftarm
andwithhisrighthandraisedtowardtheguards,swiftlydrewacomplicated
sign in the air. The clout-nails which studded his tunic from his wrists to
elbowsflashed.
The guards drew back, shielding their faceswith theirarms. Oneof the
customerssprangupwhileanotherdartedtothedoor.Thewomanscreamed
again,wildandearsplitting.
“I’ll come by myself,” repeated the stranger in his resounding, metallic
voice.“Andthethreeofyouwillgoinfrontofme.Takemetothecastellan.I
don’tknowtheway.”
“Yes, sir,” mumbled the guard, dropping his head. He made toward the
exit, looking around tentatively. The other two guards followed him out
backward,hastily.Thestrangerfollowedintheirtracks,sheathinghissword
anddagger.Astheypassedthetablestheremainingcustomershidtheirfaces
fromthedangerousstranger.
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II
Velerad,castellanofWyzim,scratchedhischin.Hewasneithersuperstitious
nor fainthearted but he did not relish the thought of being alone with the
white-hairedman.Atlasthemadeuphismind.
“Leave,” he ordered the guards. “And you, sit down. No, not there.
Fartheraway,ifyouplease.”
Thestrangersatdown.Henolongercarriedhisswordorblackcoat.
“I am Velerad, castellan of Wyzim,” said Velerad, toying with a heavy
macelyingonthetable.“AndI’mlistening.Whatdoyouhavetosaytome,
you brigand, before you are thrown into the dungeon? Three killed and an
attempted spell-casting; not bad, not bad at all. Men are impaled for such
thingsinWyzim.ButI’majustman,soIwilllistentoyou,beforeyouare
executed.Speak.”
The Rivian unbuttoned his jerkin and pulled out a wad of white goat
leather.
“You nail this crossways, in taverns,” he said quietly. “Is what’swritten
heretrue?”
“Ah.” Velerad grunted,looking at the runes etched into the leather. “So
that’sit.AndIdidn’tguessatonce.Yes,it’strue.It’ssignedbyFoltest,King
ofTemeria, PontarandMahakam,which makesittrue.Aproclamationisa
proclamation, witcher, but law is law—and I take care of law and order in
Wyzim.Iwillnotallowpeopletobemurdered!Doyouunderstand?”
TheRiviannoddedtoshowheunderstood.Veleradsnortedwithanger.
“You carry the witchers emblem?” The stranger reached into hisjerkin
oncemoreandpulledoutaroundmedalliononasilverchain.Itpicturedthe
headofawolf,baringitsfangs.“Anddoyouhaveaname?Anynamewill
do,it’ssimplytomakeconversationeasier.”
“MynameisGeralt.”
“Geralt,then.OfRiviaIgather,fromyouraccent?”
“OfRivia.”
“Right. Do you know what, Geralt? This”—Velerad slapped the
proclamation—“let it go. It’s a serious matter. Many have tried and failed
already. This, my friend, is not the same as roughing up a couple of
scoundrels.”
“I know. This is my job, Velerad. And that proclamation offers a three
thousandorenreward.”
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“Three thousand.” Velerad scowled. “And the princess as a wife, or so
rumorsays,althoughgraciousFoltesthasnotproclaimedthat.”
“I’m not interested in the princess,” Geralt said calmly. He was sitting
motionless,hishandsonhisknees.“Justinthethreethousand.”
“Whattimes,” sighedthecastellan. “Whatfoultimes! Twenty yearsago
whowouldhavethought,eveninadrunkenstupor,thatsuchaprofessionasa
witcherwouldexist?Itinerantkillersofbasilisks;travelingslayersofdragons
andvodniks!Tellme,Geralt,areyouallowedbeerinyourguild?”
“Certainly.”
Veleradclappedhishands.
“Beer!”hecalled.“Andsitcloser,Geralt.WhatdoIcare?”
Thebeer,whenitarrived,wascoldandfrothy.
“Foultimes,”Velerodmuttered,drinkingdeepfromhistankard.“Allsorts
of filth has sprung up. Mahakam, in the mountains, is teeming with
bogeymen.Inthepastitwasjustwolveshowlinginthewoods,butnowit’s
koboldsandsprigganswhereveryouspit,werewolvesorsomeothervermin.
Fairiesandrusalkassnatchchildrenfromvillagesbythehundreds.Wehave
diseasesneverheardofbefore;itmakesmyhairstandonend.Andnow,to
topitall,this!”Hepushedthewadofleatherbackacrossthetable.“It’snot
surprising,Geralt,thatyouwitchers’servicesareindemand.”
“The king’s proclamation, castellan.” Geralt raised his head. “Do you
knowthedetails?”
Veleradleanedbackinhischair,lockedhishandsoverhisstomach.
“Thedetails?Yes,Iknowthem.Notfirsthandperhaps,butfromagood
source.”
“That’swhatIwant.”
“If you insist, then listen.” Velerad drank some beer and lowered his
voice.“DuringthereignofoldMedell,hisfather,whenourgraciouskingwas
stillaprince,Foltestshoweduswhathewascapableof,andhewascapable
of a great deal. We hoped he would grow out of it. But shortly after his
coronation Foltest surpassed himself, jaw-droppingly: he got his own sister
with child. Adda was younger and they were always together, but nobody
suspectedanythingexcept,perhaps,thequeen…Togettothepoint:suddenly
thereisAddawithahugebelly,andFoltesttalkingaboutgettingwedtohis
sister.ThesituationwasmadeevenmoretensebecauseVizimirofNovigrad
wanted his daughter, Dalka, to marry Foltest and had already sent out his
envoys.WehadtorestrainFoltestfrominsultingthem,andluckywedid,or
Vizimirwouldhavetornourinsidesout.Then,notwithoutAdda’shelp—for
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she influenced her brother—we managed to dissuade the boy from a quick
wedding.
“Well,thenAddagavebirth.Andnowlisten,becausethisiswhereitall
starts.Onlyafewsawwhatshebore,butonemidwifejumpedfromthetower
windowtoherdeathandtheotherlosthersensesandremainsdazedtothis
day.SoIgatherthattheroyalbastard—agirl—wasnotcomely,andshedied
immediately.Noonewasinahurrytotietheumbilicalcord.NordidAdda,
tohergoodfortune,survivethebirth.
“ButthenFolteststeppedinagain.Wisdomdictatedthattheroyalbastard
shouldhavebeenburnedorburiedinthewilderness.Instead,ontheordersof
ourgraciousking,shewaslaidtorestinasarcophagusinthevaultsbeneath
thepalace.”
“It’stoolateforyourwisdomnow.”Geraltraisedhishead.“Oneofthe
KnowingOnesshouldhavebeensentfor.”
“Youmeanthosecharlatanswithstarsontheirhats?Ofcourse.Aboutten
of them came running later, when it became known what lay in the
sarcophagus. And what scrambled out of it at night. Though it didn’t start
manifestingstraightaway.Oh,no.Forsevenyearsafterthefuneraltherewas
peace.Thenonenight—itwasafullmoon—therewerescreamsinthepalace,
shouting and commotion! I don’t have to tell you, this is your trade and
you’vereadtheproclamation.Theinfanthadgrowninthecoffin—andhow!
—growntohaveincredibleteeth!Inaword,shebecameastriga.
“Pity you didn’t see the corpses,as I did. Hadyou, you’d havetaken a
greatdetourtoavoidWyzim.”
Geraltwassilent.
“Then,asIwassaying,”Veleradcontinued,“Foltestsummonedawhole
crowd of sorcerers. They all jabbered at the same time and almostcame to
blows with those staffs they carry—to beat off the dogs, no doubt, once
they’ve been set loose on them. And I think they regularly are. I’m sorry,
Geralt,ifyouhaveadifferentopinionofwizards.Nodoubtyoudo,inyour
profession, but to me they are swindlers and fools. You witchers inspire
greaterconfidenceinmen.Atleastyouaremorestraightforward.”
Geraltsmiled,butdidn’tcomment.
“But,tothepoint.”Thecastellanpeeredintohistankardandpouredmore
beerforhimselfandtheRivian.“Someofthesorcerers’advicedidn’tseemso
stupid. One suggested burning the striga together with the palace and the
sarcophagus.Anotheradvisedchoppingherheadoff.Therestwerekeenon
driving aspen stakes into her body during the day, when the she-devil was
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asleep in her coffin, worn out by her night’s delights. Unfortunately one, a
jesterwithapointedhatandabaldpate,ahunchbackedhermit,argueditwas
magic:thespellcouldbeundoneandthestrigawouldturnintoFoltest’slittle
daughter, as pretty as a picture. Someone simply had to stay in the crypt
throughoutthenight,andthatwouldbethat.Afterwhich—canyouimagine
suchafool?—hewenttothepalaceforthenight.Littleofhimwasleftinthe
morning,only,Ibelieve,hishatandstick.ButFoltestclungtohisidealikea
burrtoadog’stail.Heforbadeanyattempttokillthestrigaandbroughtin
charlatansfromallcornersofWyzimtoreversethespellandturnherintoa
princess.Whatcolorfulcompany!Twistedwomen,cripples,dirtyandlouse-
ridden.Itwaspitiful.
“They went ahead and castspells—mainlyovera bowl and tankard. Of
coursesomewerequicklyexposedasfraudsbyFoltestorthecouncil.Afew
wereevenhungonthepalisades,butnotenoughofthem.Iwouldhavehung
themall.Idon’tsupposeIhavetosaythatthestriga,inthemeantime,was
gettingherteethintoallsortsofpeopleeverynowandagainandpayingno
attentiontothefraudstersandtheirspells.OrthatFoltestwasnolongerliving
inthepalace.Noonelivedthereanymore.”
Veleradpaused,dranksomebeer,andthewitcherwaitedinsilence.
“And so it’s been forseven years, Geralt, becauseshewas born around
fourteenyearsago.We’vehadafewotherworries,likewarwithVizimirof
Novigrad—fought for real, understandable reasons—over the border posts,
not for some princess or marriage alliance. Foltest sporadically hints at
marriage and looks over portraits from neighboring courts, which he then
throwsdowntheprivy.Andeverynowandthenthismaniaseizesholdofhim
again, and he sends horsemen out to look for new sorcerers. His promised
reward,thethreethousand,hasattractedanynumberofcranks,strayknights,
evenashepherdknownthroughoutthewholeregionasacretin,mayherest
inpeace.Butthestrigaisstilldoingwell.Everynowandagainshegetsher
teeth into someone. You get used to it. And at least those heroes trying to
reversethespellhaveause—thebeaststuffsherselfonthespotanddoesn’t
roam beyond her palace. Foltest has a new palace, of course, quite a fine
one.”
“In seven years”—Geralt raised his head—“in seven years, no one has
settledthematter?”
“Well, no.” Velerad’s gaze penetrated the witcher. “Because the matter
can’t be settled. We have to come to terms with it, especially Foltest, our
graciousandbelovedruler,whowillkeepnailingtheseproclamationsup at
14
crossroads.Althoughtherearefewervolunteersnow.Therewasonerecently,
butheinsistedonthethreethousandinadvance.Soweputhiminasackand
threwhiminthelake.”
“Thereisstillnoshortageoffraudsters,then.”
“No, far from it,” the castellan agreed without taking his eyes off the
witcher.“That’swhyyoumustn’tdemandgoldinadvancewhenyougotothe
palace.Ifyougo.”
“I’llgo.”
“It’suptoyou.Butremembermyadvice.Aswe’retalkingofthereward,
therehasbeenwordrecentlyaboutthesecondpartofit.Imentionedittoyou:
theprincessforawife.Idon’tknowwhomadeitup,butifthestrigalooks
the way they say then it’s an exceptionally grim joke. Nevertheless there’s
beennolackoffoolsracingtothepalaceforthechanceofjoiningtheroyal
family. Two apprentice shoemakers, to be precise. Why are shoemakers so
foolish,Geralt?”
“Idon’tknow.Andwitchers,castellan?Havetheytried?”
“Therewereafew.Butwhentheyheardthespellwastobeliftedandthe
striga wasn’t to be killed, they mostly shrugged and left. That’s one of the
reasonswhymyesteemforwitchershasgrown,Geralt.Andonecamealong,
youngerthanyou—Iforgethisname,ifhegaveitatall.Hetried.”
“And?”
“Thefangedprincessspreadhisentrailsoveraconsiderabledistance.”
Geraltnodded.“Thatwasallofthem?”
“Therewasoneother.”
Veleradremainedsilentforawhile,andthewitcherdidn’turgehimon.
“Yes,” the castellan said finally. “There was one more. At first, when
Foltest threatened him with the noose if he killed or harmed the striga, he
laughedandstartedpackinghisbelongings.Butthen”—Veleradleanedacross
thetable,loweredhisvoicetoalmostawhisper—“thenheundertookthetask.
Yousee,Geralt,therearesomewisemeninWyzim,inhighpositions,who’ve
had enough of this whole affair. Rumor has it these men persuaded the
witcher, in secret, not to fuss around with spells but to batter the striga to
death and tell the kingthe spellhad failed,thathisdear daughter had been
killed in self-defense—an accident at work. The king, of course, would be
furiousandrefusetopayanoreninreward.Butthatwouldbeanendtoit.
Thewittywitcherrepliedwecouldchasestrigasourselvesfornothing.Well,
whatcouldwedo?Wecollectedmoney,bargained…butnothingcameofit.”
Geraltraisedhiseyebrows.
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“Nothing,” repeated Velerad. “The witcher didn’t want to try that first
night. He trudged around, lay in wait, wandered about the neighborhood.
Finally,theysay,hesawthestrigainaction,asshedoesnotclamberfromher
cryptjusttostretchherlegs.Hesawherandscarperedthatnight.Withouta
word.”
Geralt’sexpressionchangedalittle,inwhatwasprobablysupposedtobe
asmile.
“Those wise men,” he said, “they still have the money, no doubt?
Witchersdon’ttakepaymentinadvance.”
“Nodoubttheystilldo,”saidVelerad.
“Doestherumorsayhowmuchtheyoffer?”
Veleradbaredhisteethinasmile.“Somesayeighthundred—”
Geraltshookhishead.
“Others,”murmuredthecastellan,“talkofathousand.”
“Notmuchwhenyoubearinmindthatrumorlikestoexaggerate.Andthe
kingisofferingthreethousand.”
“Don’t forget about the betrothal,” Velerad mocked. “What are you
talkingabout?It’sobviousyouwon’tgetthethreethousand.”
“How’sitobvious?”
Velerad thumped the table. “Geralt, do not spoil my impression of
witchers! This has been going on for more than seven years! The striga is
finishing off up to fifty people a year, fewer now people are avoiding the
palace. Oh no, my friend, I believe in magic. I’ve seen a great deal and I
believe,toacertainextent,intheabilitiesofwizardsandwitchers.Butallthis
nonsense about liftingthe spell was made up by a hunchbacked,snotty old
manwho’dlosthismindonhishermit’sdiet.It’snonsensewhichnoonebut
Foltest believes. Adda gave birth to a striga because she slept with her
brother. That is the truth, and no spell will help. Now the striga devours
people—asstrigasdo—shehastobekilled,andthatisthat.Listen:twoyears
agopeasantsfromsomegodforsakenholenearMahakamwereplaguedbya
dragon devouring their sheep. They set out together, battered the dragon to
deathwithstanchions,anddidnoteventhinkitworthboastingabout.Butwe
inWyzimarewaitingforamiracleandboltingourdoorseveryfullmoon,or
tyingourcriminalstoastakeinfrontofthepalace,prayingthebeaststuffs
herselfandreturnstohersarcophagus.”
“Notabadmethod.”Thewitchersmiled.“Aretherefewercriminals?”
“Notabitofit.”
“Whichwaytothepalace,thenewone?”
16
“Iwilltakeyoumyself.Andwhataboutthewisemen’ssuggestion?”
“Castellan,”saidGeralt,“whyactinhaste?Afterall,Ireallycouldhave
anaccidentatwork,irrespectiveofmyintentions.Justincase,thewisemen
shouldbethinkingabouthowtosavemefromtheking’sangerandgetthose
fifteenhundredorens,ofwhichrumorspeaks,ready.”
“Itwastobeathousand.”
“No,LordVelerad,”thewitchersaidcategorically.“Thewitcherwhowas
offeredathousandranatthemeresightofthestriga,withoutbargaining.So
theriskisgreaterthanathousand.Whetheritisgreaterthanoneandahalf
remainstobeseen.Ofcourse,Iwillsaygoodbyebeforehand.”
“Geralt?”Veleradscratchedhishead.“Onethousandtwohundred?”
“No.Thisisn’taneasytask.Thekingisofferingthree,andsometimesit’s
easiertoliftaspellthantokill.Butoneofmypredecessorswouldhavedone
so,orkilledthestriga,ifthisweresimple.Youthinktheyletthemselvesbe
devouredoutoffearoftheking?”
“Then,witcher”—Veleradnoddedwistfully—“ouragreementstands.But
awordofadvice—saynothingtothekingaboutthedangerofanaccidentat
work.”
17
III
Foltestwasslimandhadapretty—toopretty—face.Hewasunderforty,the
witcherthought.Thekingwassittingonadwarf-armchaircarvedfromblack
wood,hislegsstretchedouttowardthehearth,wheretwodogswerewarming
themselves.Nexttohimonachestsatanolder,powerfullybuiltmanwitha
beard. Behind the king stood another man, richlydressed and witha proud
lookonhisface.Amagnate.
“A witcherfrom Rivia,” said theking after themoment’s silence which
fellafterVelerad’sintroduction.
“Yes,yourMajesty.”Geraltloweredhishead.
“What made your hair so gray? Magic? I can see that you are not old.
Thatwasajoke.Saynothing.You’vehadafairamountofexperience,Idare
presume?”
“Yes,yourMajesty.”
“Iwouldlovetohearaboutit.”
Geraltbowedevenlower.“YourMajesty,youknowourcodeofpractice
forbidsustospeakofourwork.”
“Aconvenientcode,witcher,veryconvenient.Buttellme,haveyouhad
anythingtodowithspriggans?”
“Yes.”
“Vampires,leshys?”
“Thosetoo.”
Foltesthesitated.“Strigas?”
Geraltraisedhishead,lookingthekingintheeyes.“Yes.”
Foltestturnedhiseyesaway.“Velerad!”
“Yes,GraciousMajesty?”
“Haveyougivenhimthedetails?”
“Yes,yourGraciousMajesty.Hesaysthespellcastontheprincesscanbe
reversed.”
“Ihaveknownthatforalongtime.How,witcher?Oh,ofcourse,Iforgot.
Your code of practice. All right. I will make one small comment. Several
witchers have been here already. Velerad, you have told him? Good. So I
knowthatyourspecialityistokill,ratherthantoreversespells.Thisisn’tan
option. If one hair fallsfrom mydaughtershead, your head willbe onthe
block.Thatisall.Ostrit,LordSegelen,stayandgivehimalltheinformation
herequires.Witchersalwaysaskalotofquestions.Feedhimandlethimstay
18
inthepalace.Heisnottodriftfromtaverntotavern.”
The king rose, whistled to his dogs and made his way to the door,
scatteringthestrawcoveringthechamberfloor.Atthedoorhepaused.
“Ifyousucceed,witcher,therewardisyours.MaybeIwilladdsomething
if you do well. Of course, the nonsense spread by common folk about
marryingtheprincesscarriesnotawordoftruth.I’msureyoudon’tbelieveI
wouldgivemydaughtershandtoastranger?”
“No,yourMajesty.Idon’t.”
“Good.Thatshowsyouhavesomewisdom.”
Foltestleft,closingthedoorbehindhim.Velerad and the magnate, who
had been standing all the while, immediately sat at the table. The castellan
finishedtheking’shalf-fullcup,peeredintothejugandcursed.Ostrit,who
took Foltest’s chair, scowled at the witcher while he stroked the carved
armrests.Segelin,thebeardedman,noddedatGeralt.
“Dosit,witcher,dosit.Supperwillsoonbeserved.Whatwouldyoulike
toknow?CastellanVeleradhasprobablyalreadytoldyoueverything.Iknow
him,hehassoonertoldyoutoomuchthantoolittle.”
“Onlyafewquestions.”
“Ask.”
“Thecastellan saidthat,after thestriga’sappearance,thekingcalledup
manyKnowingOnes.”
“That’sright.Butdon’tsaystriga,sayprincess.Itmakesiteasiertoavoid
making a mistake in the king’s presence—and any consequent
unpleasantness.”
“Was there anyone well-known among the Knowing Ones? Anyone
famous?”
“Therewere such, then and later. I don’t rememberthe names. Doyou,
LordOstrit?”
“I don’t recall,” said the magnate. “But I know some of them enjoyed
fameandrecognition.Therewasmuchtalkofit.”
“Weretheyinagreementthatthespellcanbelifted?”
“Theywerefarfromanyagreement”—Segelinsmiled—“onanysubject.
Butsuch anopinionwas expressed.Itwassupposedtobesimple,not even
requiringmagicalabilities.AsIunderstandit,itwouldsufficeforsomeoneto
spend the night—from sunset to the third crowing of the cock—by the
sarcophagus.”
“Simpleindeed,”snortedVelerad.
“Iwouldliketohearadescriptionofthe…theprincess.”
19
Velerad leapt up from his chair. “The princess looks like a striga!” he
yelled.“LikethemoststrigishstrigaIhaveheardof!HerRoyalHighness,the
cursed royal bastard, isfour cubits high, shapedlike a barrelof beer, has a
mawwhichstretchesfromeartoearandisfullofdagger-liketeeth,hasred
eyesandaredmopofhair!Herpaws,withclawslikeawildcat’s,hangdown
totheground!I’msurprisedwe’veyettosendherlikenesstofriendlycourts!
Theprincess, plaguechokeher, isalreadyfourteen. Time tothinkofgiving
herhandtoaprinceinmarriage!”
“Holdon,Velerad.”Ostritfrowned,glancingatthedoor.Segelinsmiled
faintly.
“Thedescription, althoughvivid,is reasonablyaccurate,and that’swhat
youwanted,isn’tit,witcher?Veleraddidn’tmentionthattheprincessmoves
with incredible speed and is far stronger for her height and build than one
wouldexpect.Andsheisfourteenyearsold,ifthatisofanyimportance.”
“Itis,”saidthewitcher.“Dotheattacksonpeopleonlyoccurduringthe
fullmoon?”
“Yes,”repliedSegelin,“ifsheattacksbeyondtheoldpalace.Withinthe
palacewallspeoplealwaysdie,irrespectiveofthemoon’sphase.Butsheonly
venturesoutduringthefullmoon,andnotalwaysthen.”
“Hastherebeenevenoneattackduringtheday?”
“No.”
“Doesshealwaysdevourhervictims?”
Veleradspatvehementlyonthestraw.
“Comeon,Geralt,it’llbesuppersoon.Pish!Devours,takesabite,leaves
aside,itvaries—accordingtohermood,nodoubt.Sheonlybittheheadfrom
one, gutted a couple, and a few moreshe picked clean to the bone, sucked
themdry,youcouldsay.Damnedmothers—!”
“Careful, Velerad,” snarled Ostrit. “Say what you want about the striga
but do not insult Adda in front of me, as you would not dare in the king’s
presence!”
“Has anyone she’s attacked survived?” the witcher asked, apparently
payingnospecialattentiontothemagnate’soutburst.
SegelinandOstritlookedateachother.
“Yes,”saidthebeardedman.“Attheverybeginning,sevenyearsago,she
threwherselfattwosoldiersstandingguardoverthecrypt.Oneescaped—”
“And then,” interrupted Velerad, “there was another, the miller she
attackednearthetown.Youremember…?”
20
21
IV
The following day, late in the evening, the miller was brought to the small
chamberabovetheguardhouseallocatedto the witcher.Hewasledinby a
soldierinahoodedcoat.
The conversation did not yield any significant results. The miller was
terrified; he mumbled and stammered, and his scars told the witcher more
than he did. The striga could open her jaws impressively wide and had
extremelysharpteeth,includingverylongupperfangs—fourofthem,twoon
each side.Her claws were sharper than a wildcat’s, but less curved. And it
wasonlybecauseofthatthemillerhadmanagedtotearhimselfaway.
HavingfinishedhisexaminationGeraltnoddedtothemillerandsoldier,
dismissing them. The soldier pushed the peasant through the door and
loweredhishood.ItwasFoltesthimself.
“Sit,donotgetup,”saidtheking.“Thisvisitisunofficial.Areyouhappy
withtheinterview?Iheardyouwereatthepalacethismorning.”
“Yes,yourMajesty.”
“Whenwillyousetaboutyourtask?”
“Itisfourdaysuntilthefullmoon.Afterthat.”
“Youprefertohavealookatheryourselfbeforehand?”
“Thereisnoneed.Buthavinghadherfillthe—theprincesswillbeless
active.”
“Striga,masterwitcher,striga.Letusnotplayatdiplomacy.Shewillbea
princessafterward.Andthatis what I have come to talk about. Answer me
unofficially,brieflyandclearly:willitworkornot?Don’thidebehindyour
code.”
Geraltrubbedhisbrow.
“Iconfirm,yourMajesty,thatthespellmightbereversed.And,unlessI
am mistaken, it can be done by spending the night at the palace. The third
crowingofthecock,aslongasitcatchesthestrigaoutsidehersarcophagus,
willendthespell.Thatiswhatisusuallydonewithstrigas.”
“Sosimple?”
“It is not simple. First you have to survive the night. Then there are
exceptions to the rule, for example, not one night but three. Consecutively.
Therearealsocaseswhichare…well…hopeless.”
“Yes,” Foltest bristled. “I keep hearing that from some people. Kill the
monsterbecauseit’sanincurablecase. Masterwitcher,Iamsure they have
22
alreadyspokentoyou.AmIright?Hacktheman-eatertodeathwithoutany
more fuss, at thebeginning, and telltheking nothing else couldbe done. I
won’tpay,buttheywill.Veryconvenient.Andcheap.Becausethekingwill
order the witcher beheaded or hanged and the gold will remain in their
pockets.”
“The king unconditionally orders the witcher to be beheaded?” Geralt
grimaced.
FoltestlookedtheRivianintheeyesforalongwhile.
“Thekingdoesnotknow,”hefinallysaid.“Butthewitchershouldbear
suchaneventualityinmind.”
Geraltwassilentforamoment.“Iintendtodowhatisinmypower,”he
said.“ButifitgoesbadlyIwilldefendmylife.YourMajesty,youmustalso
bepreparedforsuchaneventuality.”
Foltestgotup.“Youdonotunderstandme.It’sobviousyou’llkillherifit
becomesnecessary,whetherIlikeitornot.Becauseotherwiseshe’llkillyou,
surelyandinevitably.Iwon’tpunishanyonewhokillsherinself-defense.But
Iwillnotallowhertobekilledwithouttryingtosaveher.Therehavealready
beenattemptstosetfiretotheoldpalace.Theyshotatherwitharrows,dug
pitsandsettrapsandsnares,untilIhungafewofherattackers.Butthatisnot
thepoint.Witcher,listen!”
“I’mlistening.”
“After the third crowing of the cock, there will be no striga, if I
understandcorrectly.Whatwilltherebe?”
“Ifallgoeswell,afourteen-year-oldgirl.”
“Withredeyes?Crocodile’steeth?”
“Anormalfourteen-year-old.Exceptthat…”
“Well?”
“Physically.”
“Isee.Andmentally?Everyday,abucketofbloodforbreakfast?Alittle
girl’sthigh?”
“No.Mentally…Thereisnotelling.Onthelevel,Ithink,ofathree-or
four-year-oldchild.She’llrequirelovingcareforalongwhile.”
“That’sobvious.Witcher?”
“I’mlistening.”
“Canithappentoheragain?Lateron?”
Geraltwassilent.
“Aha,”saidtheking.“Itcan.Andwhatthen?”
“Should she die after a long swoon lasting several days, her body will
23
havetobeburned.Quickly.”
Foltestgrewgloomy.
“Idonotthinkitwillcometothat,”addedGeralt.“Justtobesure,Iwill
giveyousomeinstructions,yourMajesty,tolessenthedanger.”
“Rightnow?Isitnottoosoon,masterwitcher?Andif—”
“Right now,” interrupted the Rivian. “Many things may happen, your
Majesty. It could be that you’ll find a princess in the morning, the spell
alreadybroken,andmycorpse.”
“Even so? Despite my permission to defend yourself? Which, it seems,
wasn’tthatimportanttoyou.”
“Thisisaseriousmatter,yourMajesty.Theriskisgreat.Thatiswhyyou
mustlisten:theprincessshouldalwayswearasapphire aroundher neck,or
better,aninclusion,onasilverchain.Dayandnight.”
“Whatisaninclusion?”
“Asapphirewithapocketofairtrappedwithinthestone.Asidefromthat,
everynowandthenyoushouldburnjuniper,broomandaspeninthefireplace
ofherchamber.”
Foltest grew pensive. “I thank you for your advice, witcher. I will pay
heedif—Andnowlistentomecarefully.Ifyoufindthecaseishopeless,kill
her.Ifyouundothespellbutthegirlisnot…normal.Ifyouhaveashadowof
a doubt as to whether you have been entirely successful, kill her. Do not
worry,youhavenothingtofearfromme.I’llshoutatyouinfrontofothers,
banish you from the palace and thetown, nothing more, Of course I won’t
giveyouthereward,butmaybeyou’llmanagetonegotiatesomethingfrom
youknowwho.”
Theywerebothquietforawhile.
“Geralt.”ForthefirsttimeFoltestcalledthewitcherbyhisname.
“Yes.”
“Howmuchtruthisthereintherumorthatthechildisassheisbecause
Addawasmysister?”
“Notmuch.Aspellhastobecast,theydon’tcastthemselves.ButIthink
yourcongresswithyoursisterwasthereasonthespellwascast,andthisis
theresult.”
“AsIthought.ThatiswhatsomeoftheKnowingOnessaid,althoughnot
allofthem.Geralt?Wheredosuchthingscomefrom?Spells,magic?”
“I don’t know, your Majesty. Knowing Ones study the causes of such
phenomena.Foruswitcherstheknowledgethatconcentratedwillcancause
suchphenomenaisenough.Thatandtheknowledgetofightthem.”
24
“Andkillthem?”
“Usually.Besides,thatiswhatwe’reusuallypaidfor.Onlyafewdemand
thereversalofspells,yourMajesty.Asarule,peoplesimplywanttodefend
themselves from danger. If the monster has men on its conscience then
revengecanalsocomeintoplay.”
The king got up, took a few paces across the chamber, and stopped in
frontofthewitchersswordhangingonthewall.
“Withthis?”heasked,notlookingatGeralt.
“No.Thatisformen.”
“SoIheard.Doyouknowwhat,Geralt?I’mgoingtothecryptwithyou.”
“Outofthequestion.”
Foltestturned,hiseyesglinted.“Doyouknow, sorcerer, that I have not
seenher?Neitheraftershewasborn,norlater.Iwasafraid.Imayneversee
her,amInotright?AtleastIhavetherighttoseemydaughterwhileyou’re
murderingher.”
“Irepeat,it’soutofthequestion.Itiscertaindeath.Formeaswellasyou.
Ifmyattention,mywillfalters—No,yourMajesty.”
Foltestturnedaway,startedtowardthedoor.ForamomentGeraltthought
he would leave without a word, without a parting gesture, but the king
stoppedandlookedathim.
“Youinspiretrust,”hesaid,“althoughIknowwhatarogueyouare.Iwas
toldwhat happenedatthetavern.I’msureyoukilled thosethugssolelyfor
wordtospread,toshockpeople,toshockme.It’sobviousthatyoucouldhave
dealtwiththem withoutkilling.I’mafraid I’ll neverknowwhetheryou are
going there to save my daughter, or to kill her. But I agree to it. I have to
agree.Doyouknowwhy?”
Geraltdidnotreply.
“BecauseIthink,”saidtheking,“Ithinkthatsheissuffering.AmInot
right?”
Thewitcherfixedhispenetratingeyesontheking.Hedidn’tconfirmit,
didn’tnod,didn’tmaketheslightestgesture,butFoltestknew.Heknewthe
answer.
25
V
Geralt looked out of the palace window for the last time. Dusk was falling
rapidly. Beyond the lake the distantlights of Wyzim twinkled. There wasa
wildernessaroundtheoldpalace—astripofno-man’slandwithwhich,over
seven years, the town had cut itself off from this dangerous place, leaving
nothing but a few ruins, rotten beams and the remains of a gap-toothed
palisadewhichhadobviouslynotbeenworthdismantlingandmoving.Asfar
awayas possible—attheopposite endofthe settlement—thekinghadbuilt
his new residence. The stout tower of his new palace loomed black in the
distance,againstthedarkeningblueofthesky.
Inoneoftheempty,plunderedchambers,thewitcherreturnedtothedusty
tableat which he was preparing, calmlyand meticulously. He knew he had
plentyoftime.Thestrigawouldnotleavehercryptbeforemidnight.
Onthetableinfrontofhimhehadasmallchestwithmetalfittings.He
openedit.Inside,packedtightlyincompartmentslinedwithdriedgrass,stood
smallvialsofdarkglass.Thewitcherremovedthree.
Fromthefloor,hepickedupanoblongpacketthicklywrappedinsheep’s
skins and fastened with a leather strap. He unwrapped it and pulled out a
swordwithanelaboratehilt,inablack,shinyscabbardcoveredwithrowsof
runicsignsandsymbols.Hedrewtheblade,whichlitupwithapureshineof
mirror-likebrightness.Itwaspuresilver.
Geralt whispered an incantation and drank, one after the other, the
contents of two vials, placing his left hand on the blade of the sword after
eachsip.Then,wrappinghimselftightlyinhisblackcoat,hesatdownonthe
floor.Therewerenochairsinthechamber,orintherestofthepalace.
Hesatmotionless,hiseyesclosed.Hisbreathing,atfirsteven,suddenly
quickened, became rasping and tense. And then stopped completely. The
mixture which helped the witcher gain full control of his body was chiefly
made up of veratrum, stramonium, hawthorn and spurge. The other
ingredientshad no name in any humanlanguage.Foranyone who was not,
likeGeralt,inuredtoitfromchildhood,itwouldhavebeenlethalpoison.
Thewitcherturnedhisheadabruptly.Inthesilencehishearing,sharpened
beyondmeasure,easilypickedoutarustleoffootstepsthroughthecourtyard
overgrownwithstingingnettles.Itcouldnotbethestriga.Thestepsweretoo
light.Geraltthrewhisswordacrosshisback,hidhisbundleinthehearthof
theruinedchimney-placeand,silentasabat,randownstairs.
26
Itwasstilllightenoughinthecourtyardfortheapproachingmantosee
the witchers face. The man, Ostrit, backed away abruptly; an involuntary
grimaceofterrorandrepulsioncontortedhislips.Thewitchersmiledwryly
—heknewwhathelookedlike.Afterdrinkingamixtureofbanewart,monk’s
hoodandeyebrightthefacetakesonthecolorofchalk,andthepupilsfillthe
entireiris.Butthemixtureenablesonetoseeinthedeepestdarkness,andthis
iswhatGeraltwanted.
Ostritquicklyregainedcontrol.
“Youlookasifyouwerealreadyacorpse,witcher,”hesaid.“Fromfear,
nodoubt.Don’tbeafraid.Ibringyoureprieve.”
Thewitcherdidnotreply.
“Don’t you hear what I say, you Rivian charlatan? You’re saved. And
rich.”OstritheftedasizeablepurseinhishandandthrewitatGeralt’sfeet.
“Athousandorens.Takeit,getonyourhorseandgetoutofhere!”
TheRivianstillsaidnothing.
“Don’tgawpatme!”Ostritraisedhisvoice.“Anddon’twastemytime.I
havenointentionofstandinghereuntilmidnight.Don’tyouunderstand?Ido
notwishyoutoundothespell.No,youhaven’tguessed.Iamnotinleague
with Velerad and Segelin. I don’t want you to kill her. You are simply to
leave.Everythingistostayasitis.”
The witcher did not move.He did not want themagnateto realize how
fasthismovementsandreactionsnowwere.Itwasquicklygrowingdark.A
relief,aseventhesemi-darknessofduskwastoobrightforhisdilatedpupils.
“And why, sir, is everything to remain as it is?” he asked, trying to
enunciateeachwordslowly.
“Now,that”—Ostritraisedhisheadproudly—“shouldreallybeofdamn
littleconcerntoyou.”
“AndwhatifIalreadyknow?”
“Goon.”
“ItwillbeeasiertoremoveFoltestfromthethroneifthestrigafrightens
the people even more? If the royal madness completely disgusts both
magnatesandcommonfolk,amIright?IcameherebywayofRedaniaand
Novigrad.ThereismuchtalktherethattherearethoseinWyzimwholookto
KingVizimirastheirsaviorandtruemonarch.ButI,LordOstrit,donotcare
aboutpolitics,orthesuccessionstothrones,orrevolutionsin palaces. I am
heretoaccomplishmytask.Haveyouneverheardofasenseofresponsibility
andplainhonesty?Aboutprofessionalethics?”
“Careful to whom you speak, you vagabond!” Ostrit yelled furiously,
27
placinghishandonthehiltofhissword.“Ihavehadenoughofthis.Iamnot
accustomedtoholdsuchdiscussions!Lookatyou—ethics,codesofpractice,
morality?! Who are you to talk? A brigand who’s barely arrived before he
starts murdering men? Who bends double to Foltest and behind his back
bargainswithVeleradlikeahiredthug?Andyoudaretoturnyournoseupat
me, you serf? Play at being a Knowing One? A Magician? You scheming
witcher!BegonebeforeIruntheflatofmyswordacrossyourgob!”
Thewitcherdidnotstir.Hestoodcalmly.
“You’dbetterleave,LordOstrit,”hesaid.“It’sgrowingdark.”
Ostrittookastepback,drewhisswordinaflash.
“Youaskedforthis,yousorcerer.I’llkillyou.Yourtrickswon’thelpyou.
Icarryaturtle-stone.”
Geralt smiled. The reputation of turtle-stone was as mistaken as it was
popular. But thewitcherwas not going tolosehis strength on spells,much
lessexposehissilverswordtocontactwithOstrit’sblade.Hedivedunderthe
whirlingbladeand,withtheheelofhishandandhissilver-studdedcuff,hit
himinthetemple.
28
VI
Ostritquicklyregainedconsciousnessandlookedaroundinthetotaldarkness.
He noticed that he wastied up.Hedid not see Geralt standing rightbeside
him.Butherealizedwherehewasandletoutaprolonged,terrifyinghowl.
“Keepquiet,”saidthewitcher.“Otherwiseyou’lllureheroutbeforeher
time.”
“You damned murderer! Where are you? Untie me immediately, you
louse!You’llhangforthis,yousonofabitch!”
“Quiet.”
Ostritpantedheavily.
“You’re leaving me here to be devoured by her! Tied up?” he asked,
quieternow,whisperingavileinvective.
“No,”saidthewitcher.“I’llletyougo.Butnotnow.”
“Youscoundrel,”hissedOstrit.“Todistractthestriga?”
“Yes.”
Ostritdidn’tsayanything.Hestoppedwrigglingandlayquietly.
“Witcher?”
“Yes.”
“It’struethatIwantedtooverthrowFoltest.I’mnottheonlyone.ButI
amtheonlyonewhowantedhimdead.Iwantedhimtodieinagony,togo
mad,torotalive.Doyouknowwhy?”
Geraltremainedsilent.
“IlovedAdda.Theking’ssister.Theking’smistress.Theking’strollop.I
lovedher—Witcher,areyouthere?”
“Iam.”
“Iknowwhatyou’rethinking.Butitwasn’tlikethat.Believeme,Ididn’t
castanyspells.Idon’tknowanythingaboutmagic.OnlyonceinangerdidI
say…Onlyonce.Witcher?Areyoulistening?”
“Iam.”
“It’shismother,theoldqueen.Itmustbeher.Shecouldn’twatchhimand
Adda—Itwasn’tme.Ionlyonce,youknow,triedtopersuadethembutAdda
—Witcher!Iwasbesotted,andsaid…Witcher?Wasitme?Me?”
“Itdoesn’tmatteranymore.”
“Witcher?Isitnearlymidnight?”
“It’sclose.”
“Letmego.Givememoretime.”
29
“No.”
Ostritdidnothearthescrapeofthetomblidbeingmovedaside,butthe
witcher did. He leaned over and, with his dagger, cutthe magnate’s bonds.
Ostritdidnotwait,fortheword.Hejumpedup,numb,hobbledclumsily,and
ran.Hiseyeshadgrownaccustomedenoughtothedarknessforhimtoseehis
wayfromthemainhalltotheexit.
The slab blocking the entranceto the crypt opened and fell tothe floor
with a thud. Geralt, prudently behind the staircase balustrade, saw the
misshapenfigureofthestrigaspeedingswiftlyandunerringlyinthedirection
ofOstrit’sreceedingfootsteps.Nottheslightestsoundissuedfromthestriga.
Aterrible,quivering,frenziedscreamtorethenight,shooktheoldwalls,
continuedrisingandfalling,vibrating.Thewitchercouldn’tmakeoutexactly
howfarawayitwas—hissharpenedhearingdeceivedhim—butheknewthat
thestrigahadcaughtupwithOstritquickly.Tooquickly.
Hesteppedintothemiddleofthehall,stoodrightattheentrancetothe
crypt.Hethrewdownhiscoat,twitchedhisshoulders,adjustedthepositionof
hissword,pulledonhisgauntlets.Hestillhadsometime.Heknewthatthe
striga,althoughwellfedafterthelastfullmoon,wouldnotreadilyabandon
Ostrit’s corpse. The heart and liver were, for her, valuable reserves of
nutritionforthelongperiodsspentinlethargicsleep.
Thewitcherwaited.Byhiscount,therewereaboutthreehoursleftuntil
dawn.Thecock’scrowcouldonlymisleadhim.Besides,therewereprobably
nococksintheneighborhood.
Heheardher.Shewastrudgingslowly,shufflingalongthefloor.Andthen
hesawher.
Thedescriptionhadbeenaccurate.Thedisproportionatelylargeheadset
onashortneckwassurroundedbyatangled,curlyhaloofreddishhair.Her
eyesshoneinthedarknesslikeananimal’s.Thestrigastoodmotionless,her
gazefixedonGeralt.Suddenlysheopenedherjaws—asifproudofherrows
of pointed white teeth—then snapped them shut with a crack like a chest
beingclosed.Andleapt,slashingatthewitcherwithherbloodiedclaws.
Geralt jumped to the side, spun a swift pirouette. The striga rubbed
against him, also spun around, slicing through the air with her talons. She
didn’t lose her balance and attacked anew, mid-spin, gnashing her teeth
fractionsofaninchfromGeralt’schest.TheRivianjumpedaway,changing
thedirectionofhisspinwithaflutteringpirouettetoconfusethestriga.Ashe
leaptawayhedealtahardblowtothesideofherheadwiththesilverspikes
studdingtheknucklesofhisgauntlet.
30
Thestrigaroaredhorribly,fillingthepalacewithaboomingecho,fellto
theground,frozeandstartedtohowlhollowlyandfuriously.
The witcher smiled maliciously. Hisfirst attempt, as he had hoped, had
gonewell.Silverwasfataltothestriga,asitwasformostmonstersbrought
intoexistence throughmagic.Sotherewas achance:the beastwaslikethe
others,andthatbodedwellforliftingthespell,whilethesilverswordwould,
asalastresort,assurehislife.
Thestrigawasinnohurrywithhernextattack.Sheapproachedslowly,
baring her fangs, dribbling repulsively. Geralt backed away and, carefully
placing his feet, traced a semi-circle. By slowing and quickening his
movementshedistractedthestriga,makingitdifficultforhertoleap.Ashe
walked,thewitcherunwoundalong,strongsilverchain,weightedattheend.
Themomentthestrigatensedandleaptthechainwhistledthroughtheair
and,coilinglikeasnake,twineditselfaroundthemonstersshoulders,neck
andhead.Thestriga’sjumpbecameatumble,andsheletoutanear-piercing
whistle.Shethrashedaroundonthefloor,howlinghorriblywithfuryorfrom
the burning pain inflicted by the despised metal. Geralt was content—if he
wantedhecouldkillthestrigawithoutgreatdifficulty.Butthewitcherdidnot
draw his sword. Nothing in the striga’s behavior had given him reason to
thinkshemightbeanincurable case. Geralt moved to a safer distanceand,
without letting the writhing shape on the floor out of his sight, breathed
deeply,focusedhimself.
The chain snapped. The silver links scattered like rain in all directions,
ringingagainst the stone. The striga, blindwith fury,tumbledto the attack,
roaring.Geraltwaitedcalmlyand,withhisraisedrighthand,tracedtheSign
ofAardinfrontofhim.
The striga fell back as if hitby amallet butkept herfeet, extendedher
talons, bared her fangs. Her hair stood on end and fluttered as if she were
walkingagainstafiercewind.Withdifficulty,oneraspingstepatatime,she
slowlyadvanced.Butshedidadvance.
Geraltgrewuneasy.HedidnotexpectsuchasimpleSigntoparalyzethe
strigaentirelybutneitherdidheexpectthebeasttoovercomeitsoeasily.He
couldnotholdtheSignforlong,itwastooexhausting,andthestrigahadno
morethan tenstepsto go.HeloweredtheSign suddenly,andsprung aside.
Thestriga, takenbysurprise, flewforward,lostherbalance,fell,slidalong
thefloorandtumbleddownthestairsintothecrypt’sentrance,yawninginthe
floor.
Herinfernalscreamreverberatedfrombelow.
31
TogaintimeGeraltjumpedontothestairsleadingtothegallery.Hehad
notevenclimbed halfwayupwhenthe striga ranoutofthe crypt, speeding
alonglikeanenormousblackspider.Thewitcherwaiteduntilshehadrunup
the stairs after him, thenleaptover the balustrade. Thestriga turnedon the
stairs,sprangandflewathiminanamazingten-meterleap.Shedidnotlet
herselfbedeceivedbyhispirouettesthistime;twicehertalonslefttheirmark
on the Rivian’s leather tunic. But another desperately hard blow from the
silver spiked gauntlet threw the striga aside, shook her. Geralt, feeling fury
buildinginsidehim,swayed,bentbackwardand,withamightykick,knocked
thebeastoffherlegs.
Theroarshegavewaslouderthanallthepreviousones.Eventheplaster
crumbledfromtheceiling.
Thestrigasprangup,shakingwithuncontrolledangerandlustformurder.
Geraltwaited.Hedrewhissword,tracedcircleswithitintheair,andskirted
thestriga,takingcarethatthemovementofhisswordwasnotinrhythmwith
his steps. The striga did not jump. She approached slowly, following the
brightstreakofthebladewithhereyes.
Geralt stopped abruptly, froze with his sword raised. The striga,
disconcerted, also stopped. The witcher traced a slow semi-circle with the
blade, took a step in the striga’s direction. Then another. Then he leapt,
feigningawhirlingmovementwithhisswordaboveherhead.
The striga curled up, retreated in a zigzag. Geralt was close again, the
bladeshimmeringinhishand.Hiseyeslitupwithanominousglow,ahoarse
roartorethroughhisclenchedteeth.Thestrigabacked away,pushedbythe
powerof concentrated hatred, anger and violence which emanated from the
attacking man and struck her in waves, penetrating her mind and body.
Terrified andpained by feelingsunknown to hershe let out a thin, shaking
squeak,turnedonthespotandranoffinadesperate,crazyescapedownthe
darktangleofthepalace’scorridors.
Geraltstoodquiveringinthemiddleofthehall.Alone.Ithadtakenalong
time,hethought,beforethisdanceontheedgeofanabyss,thismad,macabre
balletofafight,hadachievedthedesiredeffect,allowedhimtopsychically
becomeonewithhisopponent,toreachtheunderlayersofconcentratedwill
whichpermeatedthestriga.Theevil,twistedwillfromwhichthestrigawas
born.Thewitchershiveredatthememoryoftakingonthateviltoredirectit,
asifinamirror,againstthemonster.Neverbeforehadhecomeacrosssucha
concentrationof hatredandmurderous frenzy,noteven frombasilisks,who
enjoyedaferociousreputationforit.
32
Allthebetter,hethoughtashewalkedtowardthecryptentranceandthe
blacknessthatspreadfromitlikeanenormouspuddle.Allthebetter,allthe
stronger, was the blow received by the striga. This would give him a little
more time until the beast recovered from the shock. The witcher doubted
whetherhecouldrepeatsuchaneffort.Theelixirswereweakeninganditwas
stillalongtimeuntildawn.Butthestrigacouldnotreturntohercryptbefore
firstlight,orallhistroublewouldcometonothing.
He went down the stairs. The crypt was not large; there was room for
three stone sarcophagi. The slab covering the first was half pushed aside.
Geraltpulledthethirdvialfrombeneathhistunic,quicklydrankitscontents,
climbedinto the tomb and stretched outin it.As hehad expected,it was a
doubletomb—formotheranddaughter.
Hehadonlyjustpulledthecoverclosedwhenheheardthestriga’sroar
again.He lay on his back next to Adda’s mummifiedcorpse and traced the
SignofYrdenontheinsideoftheslab.Helaidhisswordonhischest,stooda
tinyhourglassfilledwithphosphorescentsandnexttoitandcrossedhisarms.
Heno longer heard the striga’sscreams as she searched the palace. He had
gradually stopped hearing anything as the true-love and celandine began to
work.
33
VII
When Geralt opened his eyes, the sand had passed through the hourglass,
whichmeanthissleephadbeenevenlongerthanhehadintended.Hepricked
uphisears,andheardnothing.Hissenseswerenowfunctioningnormally.
He took hold ofhis sword and, murmuringan incantation, ran hishand
acrossthelidofthesarcophagus.Hethenmovedtheslabslightly,acoupleof
inches.
Silence.
Hepushedthelidfurther,sat,holdinghisweaponattheready,andlifted
his head above the tomb. The crypt was dark but the witcher knew that
outsidedawnwasbreaking.Hestruckalight,litaminiaturelampandlifted
it,throwingstrangeshadowsacrossthewallsofthecrypt.
Itwasempty.
Hescrambledfromthesarcophagus,aching,numb,cold.Andthenhesaw
her.Shewaslyingonherbacknexttothetomb,nakedandunconscious.
Shewasratherugly.Slimwithsmallpointedbreasts,anddirty.Herhair—
flaxen-red—reached almost to her waist. Standing the lamp on the slab, he
kneltbesideherandleanedover.Herlipswerepaleandherfacewasbloody
where he had hit her cheekbone. Geralt removed his gloves, put his sword
aside and, without any fuss, drew up her top lip with his finger. Her teeth
werenormal.Hereachedforherhand,whichwasburiedinhertangledhair.
Beforehetookithesawheropeneyes.Toolate.
Sheswipedhimacrosstheneckwithhertalons,cuttinghimdeeply.Blood
splashedonto her face. She howled, striking him in theeyes with herother
hand.Hefellonher,grabbingherbythewrists,nailinghertothefloor.She
gnashedherteeth—whichwerenowtooshort—infrontofhisface.Hebutted
herinthefacewithhisforeheadandpinnedherdownharder.Shehadlosther
former strength; she could only writhe beneath him, howling, spitting out
blood—his blood—which was pouring over her mouth. His blood was
draining away quickly. There was no time. The witcher cursed and bit her
hardontheneck,justbelowtheear.Hedughisteethinandclenchedthem
until her inhuman howling became a thin, despairing scream and then a
chokingsob—thecryofahurtfourteen-year-oldgirl.
Helethergowhenshestoppedmoving,gottohisknees,toreapieceof
canvasfromhissleevepocketandpressedittohisneck.Hefeltforhissword,
heldthebladetotheunconsciousgirl’sthroat,andleanedoverherhand.The
34
nailsweredirty,broken,bloodiedbut…normal.Completelynormal.
The witcher got up with difficulty. The sticky-wet grayness of early
morning was flooding in through the crypt’s entrance. He made a move
towardthestairsbutstaggeredandsatdownheavilyonthefloor.Bloodwas
pouringthroughthedrenchedcanvasontohishands,runningdownhissleeve.
He unfastened his tunic, slit his shirt, tore and ripped rags from it and tied
themaroundhisneck,knowingthathedidn’thavemuchtime,thathewould
soonfaint…
Hesucceeded.Andfainted.
InWyzim,beyondthelake,acock,rufflinghisfeathersinthecolddamp,
crowedhoarselyforthethirdtime.
35
VIII
Hesawthe whitened wallsandbeamedceiling of thesmallchamberabove
the guardroom. He moved his head, grimacing with pain, and moaned. His
neckwasbandaged,thickly,thoroughly,professionally.
“Liestill,witcher,”saidVelerad.“Lie,donotmove.”
“My…sword…”
“Yes, yes. Of course, what is most important is your witchers silver
sword.It’s here, don’tworry. Both the sword and your littletrunk.Andthe
threethousandorens.Yes,yes,don’tutteraword.ItisIwhoamanoldfool
andyouthewisewitcher.Foltesthasbeenrepeatingitoverandoverforthe
lasttwodays.”
“Two—”
“Oh yes, two. She slit your neck open quite thoroughly. One could see
everythingyouhaveinsidethere.Youlostagreatdealofblood.Fortunately
wehurriedtothepalacestraightafterthethirdcrowingofthecock.Nobody
sleptinWyzimthatnight.Itwasimpossible;youmadeaterriblenoise.Does
mytalkingtireyou?”
“Theprin…cess?”
“The princess is like a princess. Thin. And somewhat dull-witted. She
weepsincessantlyandwetsherbed.ButFoltestsaysthiswillchange.Idon’t
thinkit’llchangefortheworse,doyou,Geralt?”
Thewitcherclosedhiseyes.
“Good.Itakemyleavenow.Rest.”Veleradgotup.“Geralt?BeforeIgo,
tellme:whydidyoutrytobitehertodeath?Eh?Geralt?”
Thewitcherwasasleep.
36
THEVOICEOFREASON
37
I
“Geralt.”
Heraisedhishead,tornfromsleep.Thesunwasalreadyhighandforced
blinding golden rays through the shutters, penetrating the chamber with
tentacles of light. The witcher shaded his eyes with his hand in an
unnecessary,instinctivereflexwhichhehadnevermanagedtoshakeoff—all
heneededtodo,afterall,wasnarrowhispupilsintoverticalslits.
“It’slate,”saidNenneke,openingtheshutters.“You’vesleptin.Offwith
you,Iola.”
Thegirlsatupsuddenlyandleanedoutofbedtotakehermantlefromthe
floor. Geralt feltatrickleofcoolsaliva on his shoulder, where her lips had
beenamomentago.
“Wait…”hesaidhesitantly.Shelookedathim,quicklyturnedaway.
Shehadchanged.Therewasnothingofthewaternymphinheranymore,
nothingoftheluminous,chamomile-scentedapparitionshehadbeenatdawn.
Her eyes were blue, not black. And she had freckles—on her nose, her
neckline, her shoulders. They weren’t unattractive; they suited her
complexionandreddishhair.Buthehadn’tseenthematdawn,whenshehad
been his dream. With shame he realized he felt resentment toward her,
resentmentthatshehadn’tremainedadream,andthathewouldneverforgive
himselfforit.
“Wait,”herepeated.“Iola…Iwanted—”
“Don’t speak to her, Geralt,” said Nenneke. “She won’t answer you
anyway.Offwithyou,Iola.”
Wrapped in her mantle, the girl pattered toward the door, her bare feet
slappingthefloor—troubled,flushed,awkward.Nolongerremindinghim,in
anyway,of—
Yennefer.
“Nenneke,”hesaid,reachingforhisshirt.“Ihopeyou’renotannoyedthat
—Youwon’tpunishher,willyou?”
“Fool,” the priestess snorted. “You’ve forgotten where you are. This is
neitherahermitagenoraconvent.It’sMelitele’stemple.Ourgoddessdoesn’t
forbidourpriestessesanything.Almost.”
“Youforbademetotalktoher.”
“Ididn’tforbidyou.ButIknowit’spointless.Ioladoesn’tspeak.”
“What?”
38
“She doesn’t speak. She’s taken a vow. It’s a sort of sacrifice through
which… Oh, what’s the point of explaining; you wouldn’t understand
anyway.Youwouldn’teventrytounderstand.Iknowyourviewsonreligion.
No,don’tgetdressedyet.Iwanttocheckyourneck.”
Shesatontheedgeofthebedandskillfullyunwoundthelinenbandages
wrappedthicklyaroundthewitchersneck.Hegrimacedinpain.
AssoonashehadarrivedinEllander,Nennekehadremovedthepainfully
thick stitches of shoemakers twine with which they had stitched him in
Wyzim,openedthewoundanddresseditagain.Theresultswereclear:hehad
arrivedatthetemplealmostcured,ifperhapsalittlestiff.Nowhewassick
again,andinpain.Buthedidn’tprotest.He’dknownthepriestessforyears
and knew how great was her knowledge of healing, how rich and
comprehensiveherpharmacywas.AcourseoftreatmentatMelitele’stemple
coulddonothingbutgood.
Nennekefeltthewound,washeditandbegantocurse.Healreadyknew
this routine by heart. She had started on the very first day, and had never
failedtomoanwhenshesawthemarksleftbytheprincessofWyzim’stalons.
“It’s terrible! To let yourself be slashed like this by an ordinary striga.
Muscles,tendons—sheonlyjustmissedyourcarotidartery!Great Melitele!
Geralt,what’shappeningtoyou?Howdidshegetsoclosetoyou?Whatdid
youwantwithher?Tomounther?”
Hedidn’tanswer,andsmiledfaintly.
“Don’tgrinlikeanidiot.”Thepriestessroseandtookabagofdressings
from the chest of drawers. Despite her weight and low stature, she moved
swiftly and gracefully. “There’s nothing funny about it. You’re losing your
reflexes,Geralt.”
“You’reexaggerating.”
“I’mnotexaggeratingatall.”Nennekespreadagreenish mushsmelling
sharplyofeucalyptusoverthewound.“Youshouldn’thaveallowedyourself
to get wounded, but you did, and very seriously at that. Fatally even. And
evenwithyourexceptionalpowersofregenerationit’llbemonthsbeforeyour
neckisfullymobileagain.Iwarnyou,don’ttestyourstrengthbyfightingan
agileopponentduringthattime.”
“Thankyouforthewarning.Perhapsyoucouldgivemesomeadvice,too:
howamIsupposedtoliveinthemeantime?Rallyafewgirls,buyacartand
organizeatravelinghouseofill-repute?”
Nennekeshrugged,bandaginghisneckwithquick,deftmovements.“Am
Isupposedtogiveyouadviceandteachyouhowtolive?AmIyourmother
39
orsomething?Right,that’sdone.Youcangetdressed.Breakfast’swaitingfor
you in the refectory. Hurry up or you’ll have to make it yourself. I don’t
intendtokeepthegirlsinthekitchentomidday.”
“WherewillIfindyoulater?Inthesanctuary?”
“No.” Nenneke got up. “Not in the sanctuary. You’re a welcome guest
here,witcher,butdon’thangaroundinthesanctuary.Goforawalk,andI’ll
findyoumyself.”
“Fine.”
40
II
Geralt strolled—for the fourth time—alongthe poplar alley which ledfrom
the gate to the dwellings by the sanctuary and main temple block, which
merged into the sheer rock. After brief consideration he decided against
returningtoshelter,andturnedtowardthegardensandoutbuildings.Umpteen
priestesses, clad in gray working garments, were toiling away, weeding the
beds and feeding the birds in the henhouses. The majority of them were
young or very young,virtuallychildren. Some greeted him withanod or a
smile in passing. He answered their greetings but didn’t recognize any of
them.Althoughheoftenvisitedthetemple—onceoreventwiceayear—he
neversawmorethanthreeorfourfacesheknew.Thegirlscameandwent—
becoming oracles in other temples, midwives and healers specializing in
women’sandchildren’sdiseases,wanderingdruids,teachersorgovernesses.
Buttherewasneverashortageofpriestesses,arrivingfromallover,eventhe
remotestregions.Melitele’stempleinEllanderwaswell-knownandenjoyed
well-earnedfame.
ThecultofMelitelewasoneoftheoldestand,initsday,oneofthemost
widespread cults from time immemorial. Practically every pre-human race
andeveryprimordialnomadichumantribehonoredagoddessofharvestand
fertility, a guardian of farmers and gardeners, a patroness of love and
marriage.ManyofthesereligionsmergedintothecultofMelitele.
Time,whichwasquitepitilesstowardotherreligionsandcults,effectively
isolating them in forgotten, rarely visited little temples and oratories buried
among urban buildings, had proved merciful to Melitele. She did not lack
either followers or sponsors. In explaining the popularity of the goddess,
learnedmenwhostudiedthisphenomenonusedtoharkbacktothepre-cults
of the Great Mother, Mother Nature, and pointed to the links with nature’s
cycle, with the rebirth of lifeand other grandiloquently namedphenomena.
Geralt’s friend, the troubadour Dandilion, who enjoyed a reputation as a
specialistineverypossiblefield,lookedforsimplerexplanations.Melitele’s
cult, he deduced, was a typical woman’s cult. Melitele was, after all, the
patroness of fertility and birth; she was the guardian of midwives. And a
womaninlaborhastoscream.Apartfromtheusualcries—usuallypromising
nevertogiveherselftoanybloodymaneveragaininherlife—awomanin
laborhastocalluponsomegodheadforhelp,andMelitelewasperfect.And
since women gave birth, give birth and will continue to give birth, the
41
goddessMelitele,thepoetproved,didnothavetofearforherpopularity.
“Geralt.”
“Nenneke.Iwaslookingforyou.”
“Me?”Thepriestesslookedathimmockingly.“NotIola?”
“Iola,too,”headmitted.“Doesthatbotheryou?”
“Rightnow,yes.Idon’twantyoutogetinherwayanddistracther.She’s
gottogetherselfreadyandprayifsomething’stocomeofthistrance.”
“I’vealreadytoldyou,”hesaidcoldly,“Idon’twantanytrance.Idon’t
thinkatrancewillhelpmeinanyway.”
“WhileI”—Nennekewinced—“don’tthinkatrancewillharmyouinany
way.”
“Ican’tbehypnotized.Ihaveimmunity.I’mafraidforIola.Itmightbe
toogreataneffortforamedium.”
“Iola isn’t a medium or a mentally ill soothsayer. That child enjoys the
goddess’sfavor.Don’tpullsillyfaces,ifyouplease.AsIsaid,yourviewon
religionisknowntome,it’sneverparticularlybotheredmeand,nodoubt,it
won’tbothermeinthefuture.I’mnotafanatic.You’vearighttobelievethat
we’regovernedbyNatureandtheForcehiddenwithinher.Youcanthinkthat
the gods, includingmy Melitele, are merelya personification of this power
inventedforsimpletonssotheycanunderstanditbetter,acceptitsexistence.
Accordingtoyou,thatpowerisblind.Butforme,Geralt,faithallowsyouto
expectwhat mygoddesspersonifies fromnature:order,law, goodness.And
hope.”
“Iknow.”
“Ifyouknowthat,thenwhyyourreservationsaboutthetrance?Whatare
you afraid of? That I’ll make you bow your head to a statue and sing
canticles?Geralt,we’llsimplysit togetherforawhile—you,meandIola—
and see if the girl’s talents will let her see into the vortex of power
surrounding you. Maybe we’ll discover something worth knowing. And
maybe we won’t discoveranything. Maybe the power and fate surrounding
you won’t choose to reveal themselves to us, will remain hidden and
incomprehensible.Idon’tknow.Butwhyshouldn’twetry?”
“Becausethere’snopoint.I’mnotsurroundedbyanyvortexorfate.And
ifIwere,whythehellwouldIdelveintoit?”
“Geralt,you’resick.”
“Injured,youmean.”
“IknowwhatImean.There’ssomethingnotquiterightwithyou. Ican
sense that. After all, I have known you ever since you were a youngster.
42
When I met you, you came up to my waist. And now I feel that you’re
spinningaroundinsomedamnedwhirlpool,tangledupinaslowlytightening
noose.Iwanttoknowwhat’shappening.ButIcan’tdoitmyself.Ihaveto
countonIola’sgifts.”
“Youwanttodelvetoodeeply.Whythemetaphysics?I’llconfideinyou,
ifyoulike.I’llfillyoureveningswithtales ofever moreastoundingevents
fromthepastfewyears.Getakegofbeersomythroatdoesn’tdryupandwe
canstarttoday.ButIfearI’llboreyoubecauseyouwon’tfindanynoosesor
vortexesthere.Justawitchersordinarytales.”
“I’llwillinglylistentothem.Butatrance,Irepeat,woulddonoharm.”
“Don’t you think”—he smiled—“that my lack of faith makes such a
trancepointless?”
“No,Idon’t.Anddoyouknowwhy?”
“No.”
Nennekeleanedoverandlookedhimintheeyeswithastrangesmileon
herpalelips.
“BecauseitwouldbethefirstproofI’veeverheardofthatalackoffaith
hasanykindofpoweratall.”
43
AGRAINOFTRUTH
44
I
Anumberofblackpointsmovingagainstabrightskystreakedwithmistdrew
the witchers attention. Birds. They wheeled in slow, peaceful circles, then
suddenlyswoopedandsoaredupagain,flappingtheirwings.
Thewitcherobservedthebirdsforalongtime,then—bearinginmindthe
shapeoftheland,densityofthewood,depthandcourseoftheravinewhich
hesuspectedlayinhispath—calculatedthedistancetothem,andhowlong
hewouldtake to cover it. Finally he threw aside his coat and tightened the
beltacrosshischestbytwoholes.Thepommelandhiltoftheswordstrapped
acrosshisbackpeekedoverhisshoulder.
“We’ll go a little out of our way, Roach,”he said. “We’ll take a detour
fromthehighway.Idon’tthinkthebirdsarecirclingtherefornothing.”
Themarewalkedon,obedienttoGeralt’svoice.
“Maybe it’s just a dead elk,” said Geralt. “But maybe it’s not. Who
knows?”
Therewasaravine,ashehadsuspected;thewitcherscannedthecrowns
ofthetreestightlyfillingtherift.Butthesidesofthegullyweregentle,the
riverbed dry and clear of blackthorns and rotting tree trunks. He crossed it
easily.Ontheothersidewasacopseofbirches,andbehinditalargeglade,
heathandundergrowth,whichthrewtentaclesoftangledbranchesandroots
upward.
The birds, scared away by the appearance of a rider, soared higher,
croakingsharplyintheirhoarsevoices.
Geraltsawthefirstcorpseimmediately—thewhiteofthesheepskinjacket
and matt-blue of the dress stood out clearly against a yellowing clump of
sedge.Hedidn’tseethesecondcorpsebutitslocationwasbetrayedbythree
wolves sitting calmly on their haunches watching the witcher. His mare
snorted and the wolves, as if at a command, unhurriedly trotted into the
woods, every now and again turning their triangular heads to watch the
newcomer.Geraltjumpedoffhishorse.
The woman in the sheepskin and blue dress had no face or throat, and
mostofherleftthighhadgone.Thewitcher,notleaningover,walkedbyher.
Themanlaywithhisfacetotheground.Geraltdidn’tturnthebodyover,
seeingthatthewolvesandbirdshadn’tbeenidle.Andtherewasnoneedto
examinethecorpseindetail—theshouldersandbackofthewoollendoublet
were covered with thick blackrivuletsof dried blood. Itwasclear the man
45
haddiedfrom ablowtothe neck,andthewolves hadonlyfoundthe body
afterward.
Onawidebeltnexttoashortcutlassinawoodensheaththemanworea
leatherpurse.Thewitchertoreitoffand,itembyitem,threwthecontentson
thegrass:atinderbox,apieceofchalk,sealing-wax,ahandfulofsilvercoins,
a folding shaving-knifewith a bone handle, a rabbit’s ear, threekeys and a
talisman with a phallic symbol. Two letters, written on canvas, were damp
with rain and dew, smudged beyond readability. The third, written on
parchment, was also ruined by damp, but still legible. It was a credit note
madeoutbythedwarves’bankinMuriveltoamerchantcalledRulleAsper,
orAspen.Itwasn’tforalargesum.
Bendingover,Geraltliftedtheman’srighthand.Ashehadexpected,the
copper ring digging into the swollen, blue finger carried the sign of the
armorers’guild:astylizedhelmetwithvisor,twocrossedswordsandtherune
“A”engravedbeneaththem.
Thewitcherreturnedtothewoman’scorpse.Ashewasturningthebody
over,somethingprickedhim in thefinger—arose,pinned to thedress.The
flowerhadwitheredbutnotlostitscolor:thepetalsweredarkblue,verydark
blue. It was the first time Geralt had seen such a rose. He turned the body
overcompletely,andwinced.
On the woman’s bare and bloody neck were clear bite marks. And not
thoseofawolf.
Thewitchercarefullybackedawaytohishorse.Withouttakinghiseyes
fromtheforestedge,heclimbedintothesaddle.Hecircledthegladetwice
and,leaningover,lookedaround,examiningthegroundclosely.
“So, Roach,” hesaid quietly, “the caseis reasonably clear. The armorer
and the woman arrived on horseback from thedirection of theforest. They
wereontheirwayhomefromMurivel,becausenobodycarriesanuncashed
credit note for long. Why they were going this way and not following the
highway?Idon’tknow.Buttheywerecrossingtheheath,sidebyside.And
then—again, I don’t know why—they both dismounted, or fell from, their
horses. The armorer died instantly. The woman ran, then fell anddied, and
whateverattackedher—whichdidn’tleaveanytracks—draggedheralongthe
ground,withherthroatinitsteeth.Thehorsesranoff.Thishappenedtwoor
threedaysago.”
Themaresnortedrestlessly,reactingtohistoneofvoice.
“The thing which killed them,” continued Geralt, watching the forest’s
edge,“wasneitherawerewolfnoraleshy.Neitherwouldhaveleftsomuch
46
forthescavengers.IftherewereswampshereI’dsayitwasakikimoraora
vypper…buttherearen’tanyswampshere.”
Leaning over, the witcher pulled back the blanket which covered the
horse’s side and uncovered another sword strapped to the saddlebag—one
withashining,ornateguardandblackcorrugatedhilt.
“Well, Roach. We’re taking a roundabout route; we’d better check why
this armorer and woman were riding through the forest, not along the
highway.Ifwepassbyignoringsuchincidents,wewon’teverearnenough
foryouroats,willwe?”
The mare obediently moved forward, across the heath, carefully
sidesteppinghollows.
“Although it’s not a werewolf, we won’t take any risks,” the witcher
continued,takingabunchofdriedmonksheadfromasaddlebagandhanging
itbythebit.Themaresnorted.Geraltunlacedhistunicalittleandpulledout
amedallionengravedwithawolfwithbaredjaws.Themedallion,hangingon
asilverchain,bobbedupanddowninrhythmtothehorse’sgait,sparklingin
thesun’srayslikemercury.
47
II
Henoticedtheredtilesofthetowersconicalrooffromthesummitofahill
ashecutacrossabendinthefainttrail.Theslope,coveredwithhazel,dry
branches and a thick carpet of yellow leaves, wasn’t safe to descend on
horseback. The witcher retreated, carefully rode down the incline and
returnedtothemainpath.Herodeslowly,stoppedthehorseeverynowand
againand,hangingfromthesaddle,lookedoutfortracks.
The mare tossed her head, neighed wildly, stamped and danced on the
path,kickingupastormofdriedleaves.Geralt,wrappinghisleftarmaround
the horse’s neck, swept his right hand—the fingers arranged in the Sign of
Axia—overthemount’sheadashewhisperedanincantation.
“Is it as bad as all that?” he murmured, looking around and not
withdrawingtheSign.“Easy,Roach,easy.”
The charm worked quickly but the mare, prodded with his heel, moved
forwardreluctantly,losingthenaturalspringyrhythmofhergait.Thewitcher
jumpednimblytothegroundandwentonbyfoot,leadingherbythebridle.
Hesawawall.
Therewasnogapbetweenthewallandtheforest,nodistinctbreak.The
youngtreesandjuniperbushestwinedtheirleaveswiththeivyandwildvines
clingingtothestonework.Geraltlookedup.Atthatsamemoment,hefelta
pricklealong hisneck,asifan invisible,softcreaturehadlatchedontohis
neck,liftingthehairsthere.
Hewasbeingwatched.
He turned around smoothly. Roach snorted; the muscles in her neck
twitched,movedunderherskin.
Agirlwasstandingontheslopeofthehillhehadjustclimbeddown,one
armrestingonthetrunkofanaldertree.Hertrailingwhitedresscontrasted
withtheglossyblacknessofherdisheveledhair,fallingtohershoulders.She
seemedtobesmiling,butshewastoofarawaytobesure.
“Greetings,”hesaid,raisinghishandinafriendlygesture.Hetookastep
toward the girl. She turned her head a little, following his movements. Her
facewaspale,hereyesblackandenormous.Thesmile—ifithadbeenasmile
—vanished from her face as though wiped away with a cloth. Geralt took
anotherstep,theleavesrustledunderfoot,andthegirlrandowntheslopelike
adeer,flittingbetweenthehazelbushes.Shewasnomorethanawhitestreak
asshedisappearedintothedepthsoftheforest.Thelongdressdidn’tappear
48
torestricthereaseofmovementintheleast.
Roach neighed anxiously, tossing her head. Geralt, still watching the
forest,instinctivelycalmedherwiththeSignagain.Pullingthemarebythe
bridle, he walkedslowly along the wall, wading through burdock upto the
waist.
He came to a sturdy gate, with iron fittings and rusty hinges, furnished
with a great brass knocker. After a moment’s hesitation Geralt reached out
and touched the tarnished ring. He immediately jumped back as, at that
moment, the gate opened,squeaking,clattering, and raking asideclumpsof
grass, stones and branches. There was no one behind it—the witcher could
only see a deserted courtyard, neglected and overgrown with nettles. He
entered,leadingRoach.Themare,stillstunnedbytheSign,didn’tresist,but
shemovedstifflyandhesitantlyafterhim.
Thecourtyardwassurroundedonthreesidesbyawallandtheremainsof
some wooden scaffolding. On the fourth side stood the mansion, its façade
mottledbyapoxofchippedplaster,dirtydamppatches,andfestoonedwith
ivy.Theshutters,withtheirpeelingpaint,wereclosed,aswasthedoor.
GeraltthrewRoach’sreinsoverthepillarbythegateandslowlymadehis
waytowardthemansion,followingthegravelpathpastasmallfountainfull
of leaves and rubbish. In the center of the fountain, on a fanciful plinth, a
whitestonedolphinarched,turningitschippedtailupward.
Nexttothefountaininwhat,averylongtimeago,usedtobeaflowerbed,
grewarosebush.Nothingbutthecoloroftheflowersmadethisbushunique
—buttheflowerswereexceptional:indigo,withafaintshadeofpurpleonthe
tipsofsomeofthepetals.Thewitchertouchedone,brought hisfacecloser
and inhaled. The flowers held the typical scent of roses, only a little more
intense.
Thedoorandalltheshuttersofthemansionflewopenatthesameinstant
withabang.Geraltraisedhisheadabruptly.Downthepath,scrunchingthe
gravel,amonsterwasrushingstraightathim.
The witchers right hand rose, as fast as lightning, above his right
shoulderwhilehisleftjerkedthebeltacrosshischest,makingtheswordhilt
jumpintohispalm.Theblade,leapingfromthescabbardwithahiss,traceda
short,luminoussemi-circleandfroze,thepointaimingatthechargingbeast.
Atthesightofthesword,themonsterstoppedshort,sprayinggravelinall
directions.Thewitcherdidn’tevenflinch.
Thecreaturewashumanoid,anddressedinclotheswhich,thoughtattered,
wereofgoodqualityandnotlackinginstylishanduselessornamentation.His
49
humanform, however,reachedno higherthanthe soiledcollarof histunic,
for above it loomed a gigantic, hairy, bear-like head with enormous ears, a
pair of wild eyes and terrifying jaws full of crooked fangs in which a red
tongueflickeredlikeflame.
“Flee,mortalman!”themonsterroared,flappinghispawsbutnotmoving
fromthespot.“I’lldevouryou!Tearyoutopieces!”Thewitcherdidn’tmove,
didn’t lower his sword. “Are you deaf? Away with you!” The creature
screamed,thenmadeasoundsomewherebetweenapig’ssquealandastag’s
bellowingroar,makingtheshuttersrattleandclatterandshakingrubbleand
plasterfromthesills.Neitherwitchernormonstermoved.
“Clearoffwhileyou’restillinonepiece!”roaredthecreature,lesssureof
himself.“Becauseifyoudon’t,then—”
“Thenwhat?”interruptedGeralt.
The monster suddenly gasped and tilted his monstrous head. “Look at
him, isn’t he brave?” He spoke calmly, baring his fangs and glowering at
Geraltwithbloodshoteyes.“Lowerthatiron,ifyou please.Perhapsyou’ve
notrealizedyou’reinmycourtyard?Ormaybeit’scustomary,whereveryou
comefrom,tothreatenpeoplewithswordsintheirowncourtyards?”
“Itiscustomary,”Geraltagreed,“whenfacedwithpeoplewhogreettheir
guestswitharoarandthecrythatthey’regoingtotearyoutopieces.”
“Poxonit!”Themonstergothimselfworkedup.“Andhe’llinsultmeon
topofitall,thisstraggler.Aguest,ishe?Pusheshiswayintotheyard,ruins
someoneelse’sflowers,playsthelordandthinksthathe’llbebroughtbread
andsalt.Bah!”
Thecreaturespat, gasped and shuthisjaws.Thelower fangs protruded,
makinghimlooklikeaboar.
“So?” The witcher spoke after a moment, lowering his sword. “Are we
goingtocarryonstandinglikethis?”
“And what do you suggest instead? Lying down?” snorted the monster.
“Putthatironaway,Isaid.”
The witcher nimbly slipped the weapon into its scabbard and, without
loweringhisarm,strokedthehiltwhichroseabovehisshoulder.
“I’dpreferyou,”hesaid,“nottomakeanysuddenmoves.Thisswordcan
alwaysbedrawnagain,fasterthanyouimagine.”
“Inoticed,”raspedthemonster.“Ifitwasn’tforthat,you’dhavebeenout
of this gatea long timeago, with my bootprint on your arse. What do you
wanthere?Howdidyougethere?”
“Igotlost,”liedthewitcher.
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“Yougotlost,”repeatedthemonster,twistinghisjawsinamenacinggrin.
“Well,unloseyourway.Outofthegate,turnyourlefteartothesunandkeep
walkingandyou’llsoongetbacktothehighway.Well?Whatareyouwaiting
for?”
“Isthere anywater?”asked Geraltcalmly. “Thehorseisthirsty.Andso
amI,ifthatdoesn’tinconvenienceyou.”
The monster shifted from one foot to the other and scratched his ear.
“Listenyou,”hesaid.“Areyoureallynotfrightenedofme?”
“ShouldIbe?”
Themonsterlookedaround,clearedhisthroatandyanked up his baggy
trousers.
“Poxonit,what’stheharmofaguestinthehouse?It’snoteverydayI
meet someone who doesn’t run away or faint at the sight of me. All right,
then.Ifyou’reawearybuthonestwanderer,Iinviteyouin.Butifyou’rea
brigandorathief,thenIwarnyou:thishousedoeswhatItellit to.Within
thesewallsIrule!”
He lifted his hairy paw. All the shutters clattered against the wall once
moreanddeepinthedolphin’sstonegullet,somethingrumbled.
“Iinviteyouin,”herepeated.
Geraltdidn’tmove,scrutinizinghim.
“Doyoulivealone?”
“What’sthattodowithyou?”saidthemonsterangrily,openinghisjaws,
thencroakedloudly,“Oh,Isee.Nodoubtyou’dliketoknowwhetherI’vegot
fortyservantsallasbeautifulasme.Idon’t.Well,pox,areyougoingtomake
useofmygenerousinvitation?Ifnot,thegate’soverthere.”
Geraltbowedstiffly.“Iacceptyourinvitation,”hesaidformally.“Iwon’t
slighttherightofhospitality.”
“My house is your house,” the monster said in return, just as formally,
although a little offhandedly. “This way please, dear guest. And leave the
horsehere,bythewell.”
Theinteriorwasinneedofextensiverepair, although it was reasonably
clean and tidy. Thefurniturehad been made by skilledcraftsmen,if a very
longtimeago.Apungentsmellofdusthunginthedarkrooms.
“Light!”growledthemonster,andthetorchinitsironbracketburstinto
flamesandsootysmoke.
“Notbad,”remarkedthewitcher.
Themonstercackled. “That’s it? Iseeyouwon’tbe amazed byanyold
trick.I toldyouthis houseobeysmy commands.Thisway,please.Careful,
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thestairsaresteep.Light!”
On the stairs, the monster turned. “What’s that around your neck, dear
guest?”
“Havealook.”
The creature took the medallion in his paw, lifted it up to his eyes,
tighteningthechainaroundGeralt’sneckalittle.
“Theanimalhasanunpleasantexpression.Whatisit?”
“Myguild’sbadge.”
“Ah,youmakemuzzles,nodoubt.Thisway,please.Light!”
Thecenterofthelargeroom,completelydevoidof windows,wastaken
up by a huge oak table, empty apart from an enormous brass candlestick,
slowly turning green and covered with trickles of hardened wax. At the
monsters command, thecandles litand flickered, brightening the interiora
little.
Onewallwashungwithweapons,compositionsofroundshields,crossed
partisans,javelinsandguisarmes,heavysabersandaxes.Halfoftheadjacent
wall was taken up by an enormous fireplace, above which hung rows of
flaking and peeling portraits. The wall facing the entrance was filled with
hunting trophies—elks and stag antlers whose branching racks threw long
shadowsacrossthegrinningmountedheadsofwildboar,bearandlynx,over
the ruffled and frayed wings of eagles and hawks. The place of honor was
filledbyarockdragon’shead,taintedbrown,damagedandleakingstuffing.
Geraltexamineditmoreclosely.
“My grandpa killed it,” said the monster, throwing a huge log into the
depthsof thefireplace.“Itwasprobably thelastoneinthevicinitywhenit
gotitselfkilled.Sit,mydearguest.You’rehungry?”
“Iwon’tdenyit,dearhost.”
Themonstersatatthetable,loweredhishead,claspedhishairypawsover
hisstomach,mutteredsomethingwhiletwiddlinghisenormousthumbs,then
suddenlyroared,thumpingthetablewithhispaw.Dishesandplattersrattled
likepewterandsilver,chalicesjingledlikecrystal.Therewasasmellofroast
meat,garlic,marjoramandnutmeg.Geraltdidnotshowanysurprise.
“Yes.”Themonsterrubbedhishands.“Thisisbetterthanservants,isn’t
it?Helpyourself,dearguest.Here is some fowl, here some boar ham, here
terrineof…Idon’tknowwhat.Something.Herewehavesomehazelgrouse.
Pox, no, it’s partridge. I got the spells muddled up. Eat up, eat up. This is
proper,realfood,don’tworry.”
“I’mnotworried.”Geralttorethefowlintwo.
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“Iforgot,”snorted the monster, “thatyou’renottimid. WhatshallIcall
you?”
“Geralt.Andyourname,dearhost?”
“Nivellen.ButtheycallmeDegenorFangeraroundhere.Andtheyuse
metofrightenchildren.”
Themonsterpouredthecontentsofanenormouschalicedownhisthroat,
afterwhichhesankhisfingersintheterrine,tearinghalfofitfromthebowl
inonego.
“Frighten children,” repeated Geralt with his mouth full. “Without any
reason,nodoubt?”
“Ofcoursenot.Yourhealth,Geralt!”
“Andyours,Nivellen.”
“How’s thewine?Have you noticedthat it’s made from grapesand not
apples?Butifyoudon’tlikeit,I’llconjureupadifferentone.”
“Thankyou,it’snotbad.Areyourmagicalpowersinnate?”
“No. I’ve had them since growing this. This trap, that is. I don’t know
how it happened myself, but the housedoeswhateverI wish. Nothing very
big;Ican conjure upfood,drink,clothes, cleanlinen,hotwater, soap. Any
woman can do that, and without using magic at that. I can open and close
windowsanddoors.Icanlightafire.Nothingveryremarkable.”
“It’ssomething.Andthis…trap,asyoucallit,haveyouhaditlong?”
“Twelveyears.”
“Howdidithappen?”
“What’sitgottodowithyou?Pouryourselfsomemorewine.”
“With pleasure. It’s got nothing to do with me. I’m just asking out of
curiosity.”
“An acceptable reason,” the monster said, and laughed loudly. “But I
don’t accept it. It’s got nothing to do with you and that’s that. But just to
satisfyyourcuriosityalittle,I’llshowyouwhatIusedtolooklike.Lookat
thoseportraits.Thefirstfromthechimneyismyfather.Thesecond,poxonly
knows.Andthethirdisme.Canyouseeit?”
Beneaththedustandspiderwebs,anondescriptmanwithabloated,sad,
spottyfaceandwateryeyeslookeddownfromthepainting.Geralt,whowas
nostrangertothewayportraitpainterstendedtoflattertheirclients,nodded.
“Canyouseeit?”repeatedNivellen,baringhisfangs.
“Ican.”
“Whoareyou?”
“Idon’tunderstand.”
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“Youdon’tunderstand?”Themonsterraisedhishead;hiseyesshonelike
acat’s.“Myportraitishungbeyondthecandlelight.Icanseeit,butI’mnot
human.Atleast,notatthemoment.Ahuman,lookingatmyportrait,would
getup,go closerand,nodoubt, have totakethecandlestick withhim.You
didn’t do that, so the conclusion is simple. But I’m asking youplainly: are
youhuman?”
Geraltdidn’tlowerhiseyes. “Ifthat’stheway youputit,” heanswered
afteramoment’ssilence,“then,notquite.”
“Ah.Surelyitwon’tbetactlessifIask,inthatcase,whatyouare?”
“Awitcher.”
“Ah,”Nivellenrepeatedafteramoment.“IfIrememberrightly,witchers
earntheirlivinginaninterestingway—theykillmonstersformoney.”
“Youremembercorrectly.”
Silencefellagain.Candleflamespulsated,flickedupwardinthinwispsof
fire, glimmering in the cut-crystal chalices. Cascades of wax trickled down
thecandlestick.
Nivellensatstill,lightlytwitchinghisenormousears.“Let’sassume,”he
saidfinally,“thatyoudrawyourswordbeforeIjumponyou.Let’sassume
youevenmanagetocutmedown.Withmyweight,thatwon’tstopme;I’ll
take you down through sheermomentum.Andthen it’steeth that’ll decide.
Whatdoyouthink,witcher,whichoneofushasabetterchanceifitcomesto
bitingeachothersthroats?”
Geralt, steadying the carafe’s pewter stopper with his thumb, poured
himself some wine, took a sip and leaned back into his chair. He was
watchingthemonsterwithasmile.Anexceptionallyuglyone.
“Yeeees,”saidNivellenslowly,diggingatthecornerofhisjawswithhis
claw.“Onehastoadmityoucananswerquestionswithoutusingmanywords.
It’llbeinterestingtoseehowyoumanagethenextone.Whopaidyoutodeal
withme?”
“Noone.I’mherebyaccident.”
“You’renotlying,byanychance?”
“I’mnotinthehabitoflying.”
“Andwhatareyouinthehabitofdoing?I’veheardaboutwitchers—they
abducttinychildrenwhomtheyfeedwithmagicherbs.Theoneswhosurvive
becomewitchersthemselves,sorcererswithinhumanpowers.They’retaught
tokill,andallhumanfeelingsandreactionsaretrainedoutofthem.They’re
turnedintomonstersinordertokillothermonsters.I’vehearditsaidit’shigh
timesomeonestartedhuntingwitchers,astherearefewerandfewermonsters
54
andmoreandmorewitchers.Dohavesomepartridgebeforeit’scompletely
cold.”
Nivellen took the partridge from the dish, put it between his jaws and
cruncheditlikeapieceoftoast,bonescrackingastheywerecrushedbetween
histeeth.
“Whydon’tyousayanything?”heaskedindistinctly,swallowing.“How
muchoftherumorsaboutyouwitchersistrue?”
“Practicallynothing.”
“Andwhat’salie?”
“Thattherearefewerandfewermonsters.”
“True.There’safairnumberofthem.”Nivellenbaredhisfangs.“Oneis
sittinginfrontofyouwonderingifhedidtherightthingbyinvitingyouin.I
didn’tlikeyourguildbadgerightfromthestart,dearguest.”
“Youaren’tamonster,Nivellen,”thewitchersaiddryly.
“Pox,that’ssomethingnew.SowhatamI?Cranberrypudding?Aflockof
wild geese flying south on a sad November morning? No? Maybe I’m the
virtue that a millers buxom daughter lost in spring? Well, Geralt, tell me
whatIam.Can’tyouseeI’mshakingwithcuriosity?”
“You’renotamonster.Otherwiseyouwouldn’tbeabletotouchthissilver
tray.Andinnowaycouldyouholdmymedallion.”
“Ha!”Nivellenroaredsopowerfullythecandleflamesfellhorizontalfor
a moment. “Today, very clearly, is a day for revealing great and terrible
secrets!NowI’mgoingtobetoldthatIgrewtheseearsbecauseIdidn’tlike
milkyporridgeasachild!”
“No, Nivellen,” saidGeralt calmly. “It happenedbecause of aspell I’m
sureyouknowwhocastthatspell.”
“AndwhatifIdo?”
“Inmanycasesaspellcanbeuncast.”
“You,asawitcher,canuncastspellsinmanycases?”
“Ican.Doyouwantmetotry?”
“No.Idon’t.”Themonsteropenedhisjawsandpokedouthistongue,two
spanlong,andveryred.“Surprisedyou,hasn’tit?”
“Thatithas,”admittedGeralt.
Themonstergiggledandloungedinhisarmchair.“Iknewthatwould,”he
said.“Pouryourself some more,getcomfortableand I’ll tellyouthewhole
story.Witcherornot,you’vegotanhonestfaceandIfeelliketalking.Pour
yourselfmore.”
“There’snoneleft.”
55
“Poxonit!”Themonsterclearedhisthroat,thenthumpedthetablewith
his paw again. A large earthenware demijohn in a wicker basket appeared
nexttothetwoemptycarafes,fromnowhere.Nivellentorethesealingwax
offwithhisteeth.
“Asnodoubtyou’venoticed,”hebegan,pouringthewine,“thisisquitea
remotearea.It’salongwaytothenearesthumansettlement.It’sbecause,you
see,myfather,andmygrandfathertoo,inhistime,didn’tmakethemselves
particularly loved by our neighbors or the merchants using the highway. If
anyonewentastrayhereandmyfatherspottedthemfromthetower,theylost
—at best—their fortune. And a couple ofthe nearer settlementswere burnt
becauseFather decidedthelevies werebeingpaid tardily.Notmanypeople
likedmyfather.Exceptforme,naturally.Icriedawfullywhenwhatwasleft
ofmyfatherafterablowfromatwo-handedswordwasbroughthomeona
cartoneday.Grandpadidn’ttakepartinrobberyanymorebecause,eversince
he was hit on the head with a morningstar, he had a terrible stutter. He
dribbledandrarelymadeittotheprivyontime.Astheirheir,Ihadtolead
thegang.
“Iwasyoungatthetime,”Nivellencontinued,“arealmilksop,sothelads
inthecrewwoundmearoundtheirlittlefingersinaflash.Iwasasmuchin
commandofthemasafatpigletisofapackofwolves.Wesoonbegandoing
thingswhichFatherwouldneverhaveallowed,hadhebeenalive.I’llspare
youthedetailsandgetstraighttothepoint.Onedaywetookourselvesasfar
asGelibol,nearMirt,androbbedatemple.Ayoungpriestesswastheretoo.”
“Whichtemple,Nivellen?”
“Poxonlyknows,butitmusthavebeenabadone.Therewereskullsand
bones on the altar, I remember, and a green fire was burning. It stank like
nobody’sbusiness.Buttothepoint.Theladsoverpoweredthepriestessand
strippedher,thensaidIhadtobecomeaman.Well,Ibecameaman,stupid
littlesnotthatIwas,andwhileIwasachievingmanhood,thepriestessspat
intomyfaceandscreamedsomething.”
“What?”
“ThatIwasamonsterinhumanskin,thatI’dbeamonsterinamonsters
skin,somethingaboutlove,blood…Ican’tremember.Shemusthavehadthe
dagger,alittleone,hiddeninherhair.Shekilledherselfandthen—
“Wefledfromthere,Geralt,I’mtellingyou—wenearlyworeourhorses
out.Itwasabadtemple.”
“Goon.”
“Thenitwasasthepriestesshadsaid.Afewdayslater,Iwokeupandas
56
the servants saw me, they screamed and took to their heels. I went to the
mirror…Yousee,Geralt,Ipanicked,hadsomesortofanattack,Iremember
it almost through a haze. To put it briefly, corpses fell. Several. I used
whatever came to hand—and I’d suddenly become very strong. And the
househelpedasbestitcould:doorsslammed,furnitureflewintheair,fires
brokeout.Whoevercouldgetoutranawayinapanic:myauntandcousin,
the lads from the crew. What am I saying? Even the dogs howled and
cowered.Mycat,Glutton,ranaway.Evenmyaunt’sparrotkickedthebucket
out of fear. I was alone, roaring, howling, going mad, smashing whatever
cametohand,mainlymirrors.”
Nivellenpaused,sighedandsniffed.
“Whentheattackwasover,”heresumedafterawhile,“itwasalreadytoo
late.I wasalone.I couldn’texplainto anyonethatonly myappearancehad
changed, that although inthis horrible shape, Iwas just a stupidyoungster,
sobbing over the servants’ bodies in an empty manor. I was afraid they’d
comebackandkillmebeforeIcouldexplain.Butnobodyreturned.”
Themonstergrewsilentforamomentandwipedhisnoseonhissleeve.
“I don’t want to go back to those first months, Geralt. It still leaves me
shakingwhenIrecallthem.I’llgettothepoint.Foralongtime,averylong
time, I sat in the manor, quiet as a mouse, not stirring from the place. If
anyoneappeared,whichrarelyhappened,Iwouldn’tgoout.I’dtellthehouse
toslamtheshuttersacoupleoftimes,orI’droarthroughthegargoyle,and
thatwasusuallyenoughforthewould-beguesttoleaveinahurry.Sothat’s
howitwas,untilonedayIlookedoutofthewindowonepaledawnand—
whatdidIsee?Sometrespasserstealingarosefrommyaunt’sbush.Andit
isn’t just any old rosebush: these are blue roses from Nazair. It was
Grandfatherwhobroughttheseedlings.Iflewintoafuryandjumpedoutside.
“Thefattrespasser,whenhegothisvoiceback—he’dlostitwhenhesaw
me—squealed that he only wanted a few flowers for his daughter, that I
shouldsparehim,sparehislifeandhishealth.Iwasjustready tokick him
outofthemaingatewhenIrememberedsomething.StoriesLenka,mynanny
—theoldbag—usedtotellme.Poxonit,Ithought,ifprettygirlsturnfrogs
intoprinces,ortheotherwayround,thenmaybe…Maybethere’sagrainof
truthinthesestories,achance…Ileaptfouryards,roaredsoloudwildvine
tumbled from the wall, and I yelled, ‘Your daughter or your life!’ Nothing
bettercameto mind. The merchant, for he was amerchant, began to weep,
thenconfessedthathisdaughterwasonlyeight.Areyoulaughing?”
“No.”
57
“Ididn’tknowwhethertolaughorcryovermyshittyfate.Ifeltsorryfor
theoldtrader.Icouldn’twatchhimshakelikethat.Iinvitedhiminside,made
him welcome and, when he was leaving,I pouredgoldandprecious stones
intohisbag.TherewasstillafairfortuneinthecellarfromFathers day. I
hadn’tquiteknownwhattodowithit,soIcouldallowmyselfthisgesture.
Themerchantbeamedandthankedmesoprofuselythatheslobberedallover
himself. He must haveboastedabout his adventure somewherebecausenot
two weeks had gone by when another merchant appeared. He had a pretty
largebagreadywithhim.Andadaughter.Alsoprettylarge.”
Nivellenextendedhislegsunderthetableandstretcheduntilthearmchair
creaked.
“Icametoanunderstandingwiththemerchantinnotime,”hecontinued.
“He’dleaveherwithmeforayear.Ihadtohelphimloadthesackontohis
mule;hewouldn’thavemanagedbyhimself.”
“Andthegirl?”
“Shehadfitsatthesightofmeforawhile.ShereallythoughtI’deather.
But after a monthwe were eating atthe same table, chattingand going for
long walks. She was kind, and remarkably smart, and I’d get tongue-tied
when I talked to her. You see, Geralt, I was always shy with girls, always
madealaughingstockofmyself,evenwithwenchesfromthecowshedwith
dunguptotheirknees,girlstheladsfromthecrewturnedoverthiswayand
thatatwill.Eventheymadefunofme.Tosaynothingofhavingamawlike
this.Icouldn’tevenmakemyselfsayanythingaboutwhyIhadpaidsodearly
forayearofherlife.Theyeardraggedlikethestenchfollowingmarauding
troopsuntil,atlast,themerchantarrivedandtookheraway.
“I locked myself in the house, resigned, and didn’t react for several
monthstoany oftheguestswho turned upwithdaughters. But afterayear
spentwithcompany,Irealizedhowharditwastolivewithoutanyonetotalk
to.”Themonstermadeanoisewhichwassupposedtobeasighbutcameout
morelikeahiccup.
“Thenextone,”hesaidafterawhile,“wascalledFenne.Shewassmall,
brightandchirpy,arealgold-crest.Shewasn’tfrightenedofmeatall.Once,
ontheanniversaryofmyfirsthaircut,mycomingofage,we’dbothdrunktoo
muchmead and…ha,ha.Straightafter, Ijumpedout ofbedandranto the
mirror. I must admit I was disappointed, and despondent. The trap was the
sameasiteverwas,ifwithaslightlymorestupidexpression.Andtheysay
thewisdomofagesistobefoundinfairytales.It’snotworthashit,wisdom
likethat,Geralt.
58
“Well,Fennequicklytriedtomakemeforgetmyworries.Shewasajolly
girl, I tell you. Do you know what she thought up? We’d both frighten
unwanted guests. Imagine: a guest like that enters the courtyard, looks
around, and then, with a roar, I charge at him on all fours with Fenne,
completelynaked,sittingonmybackandblowingmygrandfathershunting
horn!”
Nivellenshookwithlaughter,thewhiteofhisfangsflashing.“Fenne,”he
continued,“stayedwithmeforayear,thenreturnedtoherfamilywithahuge
dowry.Shewaspreparingtomarryatavernowner,awidower.”
“Carryon,Nivellen.Thisisinteresting.”
“You think so?” said the monster, scratching himself between the ears
witharaspingsound.“Allright.Thenextone,Primula,wasthedaughterof
animpoverishedknight.Theknight,whenhegothere,hadaskinnyhorse,a
rustycuirassandincredibledebts.Hewasashideousascowdung,Itellyou,
Geralt, and spread a similar smell. Primula, I’d wager my right hand, was
conceivedwhilehewasatwar,asshewasquitepretty.Ididn’tfrightenher
either,whichisn’tsurprising,really,ascomparedtoherparentImighthave
appearedquitecomely.Shehad,asitturnedout,quiteatemperamentandI,
havinggainedsomeself-confidence, seized themomentbythehorns.After
twoweeksPrimulaandIalreadyhadaverycloserelationship.Shelikedto
pullmebytheearsandshout,‘Bitemetodeath,youanimal!’and‘Tearme
apart,youbeast!’ and other equally idiotic things. I ranto the mirror in the
breaks, but just imagine, Geralt, I looked at myself with growing anxiety.
LessandlessdidIlongtoreturntomyformershape.Yousee,Geralt,Iused
tobeaweaklingandnowI’dbecomeastrappingfellow.I’dkeepgettingill,
I’dcough,mynosewouldrun,butnowIdon’tcatchanything.Andmyteeth?
You wouldn’t believe how rotten my teeth had been! And now? I can bite
throughthelegofachair.Doyouwantmetobiteachairleg?”
“No,Idon’t.”
“Maybethat’sgood.”Themonsteropenedhismouthwide.“Myshowing-
off used to amuse the girls and there aren’t many whole chairs left in the
house.”Nivellenyawned,hisenormoustonguerollingupintoatube.
“This talking has made me tired, Geralt. Briefly: there were two after
Primula, Ilka and Venimira. Everything happened in the same way, to the
point of boredom. First, a mixture of fear and reserve, then a thread of
sympathy thy reinforced by small but precious gifts, then ‘Bite me, eat me
up,’ Daddy’s return, a tender farewell and an increasingly discernible
depletion of the treasury. I decided to take longer breaks to be alone. Of-
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course,I’dlongagostoppedbelievingthatavirgin’skisswouldtransformthe
wayIlooked.AndI’dcometotermswithit.And,what’smore,I’dcometo
the conclusion that things werefineas they were andthatthere wasn’tany
needforchanges.”
“Really?Nochanges,Nivellen?”
“It’s true. I have a horse’s health, which came with the way I look, for
one.Secondly, my being differentworksongirlslikean aphrodisiac. Don’t
laugh!I’mcertainthatasahuman,I’dhavetogiveamightygoodchaseto
get at a girl like, for example, Venimira, who was an extremely beautiful
maid.Idon’tsupposeshe’dhaveglancedtwiceatthefellowintheportrait.
Andthirdly:safety.Fatherhadenemies,andacoupleofthemhadsurvived.
Peoplewhomthecrew,undermypitifulleadership,hadsenttotheirgraves,
hadrelatives.There’sgoldinthecellar.Ifitwasn’tforthe fear inspired by
me,somebodywouldcomeandgetit,ifonlypeasantswithpitchforks.”
“Youseemquite sure,”Geraltremarked,playingwithanemptychalice,
“that you haven’t offended anyone in your present shape. No father, no
daughter.Norelativeordaughtersbetrothed—”
“Leaveoff,Geralt.”Nivellenwasindignant.“Whatareyoutalkingabout?
Thefatherscouldn’tcontainthemselvesforjoy.Itoldyou,Iwasincredibly
generous.Andthedaughters?Youdidn’tseethemwhentheygothereintheir
dresses of sackcloth, their little hands raw from washing, their shoulders
stoopedfromcarryingbuckets.Evenaftertwoweekswithme,Primulastill
had marks on her back and thighs from the strap her knightly father had
beatenherwith.Theywalkedaroundlikeprincesseshere,carriednothingbut
a fan and didn’t even know where the kitchen was. I dressed them up and
coveredthemwithtrinkets.Attheclickofafinger,I’dconjureuphotwater
in the tin bath Father had plundered for my mother at Assengard. Can you
imagine?Atinbath!There’shardlyaregent,whatamIsaying,hardlyalord
who’s got a tin bath at home.This was ahouse from a fairy talefor them,
Geralt.Andasfarasbedisconcerned,well…Poxonit,virtueisrarertoday
thanarockdragon.Ididn’tforceanyofthem,Geralt.”
“Butyoususpectedsomeonehadpaidmetokillyou.Whowouldhave?”
“A scoundrel who wanted the contents of my cellar but didn’thave any
more daughters,” Nivellen said emphatically. “Human greed knows no
limits.”
“Andnobodyelse?”
“Andnobodyelse.”
They both remained silent, gazing at the nervous flicker of the candle
60
flames.
“Nivellen,”saidthewitchersuddenly,“areyoualonenow?”
“Witcher,” answered the monster after a moment’s hesitation, “I think
that,inprinciple,Ioughttoinsultyou,takeyoubytheneckandthrowyou
down the stairs. Do you know why? Becauseyou treat me like a dimwit. I
noticed how you’ve been cocking your ears and glancing at the door. You
knowperfectlywellthatIdon’tlivealone.AmIright?”
“Youare.I’msorry.”
“Poxonyourapologies.Haveyouseenher?”
“Yes.Intheforest,bythegate.Isshewhymerchantsanddaughtershave
beenleavinghereempty-handedforsometime?”
“Soyouknowaboutthattoo?Yes,she’sthereason.”
“DoyoumindifIaskwhether—”
“Yes,Idomind.”
Silenceagain.
“Ohwell,it’suptoyou,”thewitcherfinallysaid,gettingup.“Thanksfor
yourhospitality,dearhost.TimeIwasonmyway.”
“Quiteright.”Nivellenalsogotup.“Forcertainreasons,Ican’tofferyou
a room in the manor for the night, and I don’t encourage you to spend the
night in these woods. Ever since the area’s been deserted, it’s been bad at
nighthere.Yououghttogetbacktothehighwaybeforedusk.”
“I’llbearthatinmind,Nivellen.Areyousureyoudon’tneedmyhelp?”
The monster looked at him askance. “You think you could help me?
You’dbeabletoliftthisfromme?”
“Iwasn’tonlythinkingaboutthatsortofhelp.”
“You didn’t answer my question. Although… you probably did. You
wouldn’tbeableto.”
Geraltlookedhimstraightintheeyes.“Youhadsomebadluck,”hesaid.
“OfallthetemplesinGelibolandtheNimnarValley,youpickedtheChurch
ofCoramAghTera,theLionheadedSpider.Inordertoliftthecursethrown
bythepriestessofCoramAghTera,youneedknowledgeandpowerswhichI
don’tpossess.”
“Andwhodoes?”
“Soyouareinterestedafterall?Yousaidthingswerefineastheyare.”
“Astheyare,yes.Butnotastheymightbe.I’mafraidthat—”
“Whatareyouafraidof?”
Themonsterstoppedatthedoortotheroomandturned.“I’vehadenough
ofyourquestions,witcher,whichyoukeepaskinginsteadofansweringmine.
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Obviously, you’ve got to be asked in the right way. Listen. For some time
nowI’vehad hideous dreams. Maybe the word ‘monstrous’ would be more
accurate.AmIrighttobeafraid?Briefly,please.”
“Haveyoueverhadmuddyfeetafterwakingfromsuchadream?Conifer
needlesinyoursheets?”
“No.”
“Andhave—”
“No.Briefly,please.”
“You’rerightlyafraid.”
“Cananythingbedoneaboutit?Briefly,please.”
“No.”
“Finally.Let’sgo.I’llseeyouout.”
Inthecourtyard,asGeraltwasadjustingthesaddlebags,Nivellenstroked
the mare’s nostrils and patted her neck. Roach, pleased with the caress,
loweredherhead.
“Animalslikeme,” boastedthemonster. “AndIlikethem, too. Mycat,
Glutton,ranawayatthebeginningbutshecamebacklater.Foralongtime,
she was the only living creature who kept me company in my misfortune.
Vereena,too—”Hebrokeoffwithagrimace.
Geraltsmiled.“Doesshelikecatstoo?”
“Birds.” Nivellen bared his teeth. “I gave myself away, pox on it. But
what’s the harm. She isn’t another merchant’s daughter, Geralt, or another
attempt to find a grain of truth in old folk tales. It’s serious. We love each
other.Ifyoulaugh,I’llsockyouone.”
Geralt didn’t laugh. “You know your Vereena,” he said, “is probably a
rusalka?”
“Isuspectedasmuch.Slim.Dark.Sherarelyspeaks,andinalanguageI
don’t know. She doesn’teat human food.She disappears into the forest for
daysonend,thencomesback.Isthattypical?”
“Moreorless.”ThewitchertightenedRoach’sgirth-strap.“Nodoubtyou
thinkshewouldn’treturnifyouweretobecomehuman?”
“I’msureofit.Youknowhowfrightenedrusalkasareofpeople.Hardly
anybody’sseenarusalkafromupclose.ButVereenaandI…Poxonit!Take
care,Geralt.”
“Takecare,Nivellen.”Thewitcherproddedthemareinthesidewithhis
heelandmadetowardthegate.Themonstershuffledalongathisside.
“Geralt?”
“Yes.”
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“I’mnotasstupidasyouthink.Youcameherefollowingthetracksofone
ofthemerchantswho’dbeenherelately.Hassomethinghappenedtooneof
them?”
“Yes.”
“The last was here three days ago. With his daughter, not one of the
prettiest, by the way. I commanded the house to close all its doors and
shutters and give no sign of life. They wandered around the courtyard and
left.Thegirlpickedarosefrommyaunt’srosebushandpinnedittoherdress.
Lookforthemsomewhereelse.Butbecareful;thisisahorriblearea.Itold
youthattheforestisn’tthesafestofplacesatnight.Uglythingsareheardand
seen.”
“Thanks,Nivellen.I’llrememberaboutyou.Whoknows,maybeI’llfind
someonewho—”
“Maybe yes. And maybe no. It’s my problem, Geralt, my life and my
punishment.I’velearnedtoputupwithit.I’vegotusedtoit.Ifitgetsworse,
I’ll get used to that too. And if it gets far worse, don’t look for anybody.
Comehereyourselfandputanendtoit.Asawitcher.Takecare,Geralt.”
Nivellen turned and marched briskly toward the manor. He didn’t look
roundagain.
63
III
Theareawasdeserted,wildandominouslyinhospitable.Geraltdidn’treturn
tothehighwaybeforedusk;hedidn’twanttotakearoundaboutroute,sohe
tookashortcutthroughtheforest.Hespentthenightonthebaresummitofa
high hill, his sword on his knees, beside a tiny campfire into which, every
nowandthen,hethrew wisps of monkshood. In the middleofthenighthe
noticedtheglowofafirefarawayinthevalley;heheardmadhowlingand
singingandasoundwhichcouldonlyhavebeenthescreamingofatortured
woman.Whendawnhadbarelybroken,hemadehiswaytheretofindnothing
butatrampledgladeandcharredbonesinstill-warmashes.Somethingsitting
inthecrownofan enormous oak shrieked and hissed. Itcouldhavebeena
harpy,oranordinarywildcat.Thewitcherdidn’tstoptocheck.
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IV
About midday, while Roach was drinking at a spring, the mare neighed
piercingly and backed away, baring her yellow teeth and chewing her bit.
GeraltcalmedherwiththeSign.Thenhenoticedaregularringformedbythe
capsofreddishmushroomspeeringfromthemoss.
“You’re becoming a real hysteric, Roach,” he said. “This is just an
ordinarydevil’sring.What’sthefuss?”
Themaresnorted, turning her headtowardhim.The witcher rubbed his
forehead,frownedandgrewthoughtful.Thenheleaptintothesaddle,turned
thehorsearoundandstartedback,followinghisowntracks.
“Animals like me,” he muttered. “Sorry, Roach. It turns out you’ve got
morebrainsthanme!”
65
V
Themareflattenedherearsagainstherskullandsnorted,throwingupearth
withherhooves;shedidn’twanttogo.Geraltdidn’tcalmherwiththeSign;
hejumpedfromthesaddleandthrewthereinsoverthehorse’shead.Heno
longerhad hisoldsword initslizard-skinsheathon hisback;itsplacewas
filled with a shining, beautiful weapon with a cruciform and slender, well-
weightedhilt,endinginasphericalpommelmadeofwhitemetal.
Thistimethegatedidn’topenforhim.Itwasalreadyopen,justashehad
leftit.
He heard singing. He didn’t understand the words; he couldn’t even
identifythelanguage.Hedidn’tneedto—thewitcherfeltandunderstoodthe
verynature,theessence,ofthisquiet,piercingsongwhichflowedthroughthe
veinsinawaveofnauseous,overpoweringmenace.
Thesingingbrokeoffabruptly,andthenhesawher.
She was clinging to the back of the dolphin in the dried-up fountain,
embracing the moss-overgrown stone with her tiny hands, so pale they
seemed transparent. Beneath her storm of tangled black hair shone huge,
wide-openeyesthecolorofanthracite.
Geraltslowlydrewcloser,hisstepsoftandspringy,tracingasemi-circle
from the wall and blue rosebush. The creature glued to the dolphin’s back
followed him with her eyes, turning her petite face with an expression of
longing,andfullofcharm.Hecouldstillhearhersong,eventhoughherthin,
palelipswereheldtightandnottheslightestsoundemergedfromthem.
The witcher halted at a distance of ten paces. His sword, slowly drawn
fromitsblackenameledsheath,glistenedandglowedabovehishead.
“It’ssilver,”hesaid.“Thisbladeissilver.”
The pale little face did not flinch; the anthracite eyes did not change
expression.
“You’resolikearusalka,”thewitchercontinuedcalmly,“thatyoucould
deceive anyone. All the more as you’re a rare bird, black-haired one. But
horsesarenevermistaken.Theyrecognizecreatureslikeyouinstinctivelyand
perfectly. What are you? I think you’re a moola, or an alpor. An ordinary
vampirecouldn’tcomeoutinthesun.”
Thecornersofthepalelipsquiveredandturnedupalittle.
“Nivellenattractedyouwiththatshapeofhis,didn’the?Youevokedhis
dreams.Icanguesswhatsortofdreamstheywere,andIpityhim.”
66
Thecreaturedidn’tmove.
“Youlikebirds,”continuedthewitcher.“Butthatdoesn’tstopyoubiting
the necks of people of both sexes, does it? You and Nivellen, indeed! A
beautiful couple you’d make, a monster and a vampire, rulers of a ‘ forest
castle. You’d dominate the whole area in a flash. You, eternally thirsty for
blood,andhe,yourguardian,amurdereratyourservice,ablindtool.Butfirst
hehadtobecomeatruemonster,notahumanbeinginamonstersmask.”
Thehugeblackeyesnarrowed.
“Whereishe,black-hairedone?Youweresinging,soyou’vedrunksome
blood.You’vetakentheultimatemeasure,whichmeansyouhaven’tmanaged
toenslavehismind.AmIright?”
The black-tressed head nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly, and the
cornersofthemouthturnedupevenmore.Thetinylittlefacetookonaneerie
expression.
“Nodoubtyouconsideryourselftheladyofthismanornow?”
Anod,thistimeclearer.
“Areyouamoola?”
Aslowshakeofthehead.Thehisswhichreverberatedthroughhisbones
could only have come from the pale, ghastly, smiling lips, although the
witcherdidn’tseethemmove.
“Alpor?”
Denial.
Thewitcherbackedawayandclaspedthehiltofhisswordtighter.“That
meansyou’re—”
Thecornersofthelipsstartedtoturnuphigherandhigher;thelipsflew
open…
“Abruxa!”thewitchershouted,throwinghimselftowardthefountain.
From behind the pale lips glistened white, spiky fangs. The vampire
jumpedup,archedherbacklikealeopardandscreamed.
Thewaveofsoundhitthewitcherlikeabatteringram,deprivinghimof
breath, crushing his ribs, piercing his ears and brain with thorns of pain.
Flyingbackward,hejustmanagedtocrosshiswristsintheSignofHeliotrop.
Thespellcushionedsomeofhisimpactwiththewallbutevenso,theworld
grewdarkandtheremainderofhisbreathburstfromhislungsinagroan.
Onthedolphin’sback,inthestonecircleofthedried-upfountainwherea
daintygirlinawhitedresshadsatjustamomentago,anenormousblackbat
flatteneditsglossybody,openingitslong,narrowjawswide,revealingrows
of needle-like white teeth. The membranous wings spread and flapped
67
silently, and the creature charged at the witcher like an arrow fired from a
crossbow.
Geralt,withthemetallictasteofbloodinhismouth,shoutedaspelland
threwhishand,fingersspreadintheSignofQuen,outinfrontofhim.The
bat,hissing,turnedabruptly,thenchuckledandveeredupintotheairbefore
diving down vertically, straight at the nape of the witchers neck. Geralt
jumped aside, slashed, and missed. The bat,smoothly, gracefully drew in a
wing, circled around him and attacked anew, opening its eyeless, toothed
snoutwide.Geraltwaited,swordheldwithbothhands,alwayspointedinthe
creature’s direction. At the last moment, he jumped—not to the side but
forward,dealingaswingingcutwhichmadetheairhowl.
He missed. It was so unexpected that he lost his rhythm and dodged a
fractionofasecondtoolate.Hefeltthebeast’s talonstearhischeek,anda
damp velvety wing slapped against his neck. He curled up on the spot,
transferred the weight of his body to his right leg and slashed backward
sharply,missingtheamazinglyagilecreatureagain.
Thebatbeatitswings,soaredupandglidedtowardthefountain.Asthe
crooked claws scraped against the stone casing, the monstrous, slobbering
snout was already blurring, morphing, disappearing, although the pale little
lipswhichweretakingitsplacecouldn’tquitehidethemurderousfangs.
Thebruxahowledpiercingly,modulatinghervoiceintoamacabretune,
glaredatthewitcherwitheyesfullofhatred,andscreamedagain.
ThesoundwavewassopowerfulitbrokethroughtheSign.Blackandred
circlesspuninGeralt’seyes;histemplesandthecrownofhisheadthrobbed.
Through the pain drilling in his ears, he began to hear voices wailing and
moaning,thesoundoffluteandoboe,therustleofagale.Theskinonhisface
grewnumbandcold.Hefelltoonekneeandshookhishead.
Theblackbatfloatedtowardhimsilently,openingitstoothyjaws.Geralt,
still stunned by the scream, reacted instinctively. He jumped up and, in a
flash, matching the tempo of his movements to the speed of the monsters
flight,tookthreestepsforward,dodged,turnedasemi-circleandthen,quick
as a thought, delivered a two-handed blow. The blade met with no
resistance…almostnoresistance.Heheardascream,but thistimeitwasa
screamofpain,causedbythetouchofsilver.
The wailing bruxa was morphing on the dolphin’s back. On her white
dress,slightlyaboveherleftbreast,aredstainwasvisiblebeneathaslashno
longer than a little finger. The witcher ground his teeth—the cut, which
shouldhavesunderedthebeastintwo,hadbeennothingbutascratch.
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“Shout,vampire,”hegrowled,wipingthebloodfromhischeek.“Scream
yourgutsout.Loseyourstrength.AndthenI’llslashyourprettylittlehead
off!”
You.Youwillbethefirsttogrowweak,Sorcerer.Iwillkillyou.
The bruxa’s lips didn’t move, but the witcher heard the words clearly;
theyresoundedinhismind,echoingandreverberatingasifunderwater.
“Weshallsee,”hemutteredthroughhisteethashewalked,bentover,in
thedirectionofthefountain.
Iwillkillyou.I’llkillyou.I’llkillyou.
“Weshallsee.”
“Vereena!”Nivellen,hisheadhanginglowandbothhandsclingingtothe
doorframe, stumbled from the mansion. He staggered toward the fountain,
wavinghispawsunsteadily.Bloodstainedthecuffofhistunic.
“Vereena!”heroaredagain.
The bruxa jerked her head in his direction. Geralt, raising his sword to
strike, jumped toward her, but the vampire’s reaction was much faster. A
sharpscreamandanothersoundwaveknockedthewitcherfromhisfeet.He
tumbledontohisbackandscrapedagainstthegravelofthepath.Thebruxa
arched and tensed to jump, her fangs flashing like daggers. Nivellen,
spreadinghispawslikeabear,triedtograbherbutshescreamedstraightinto
his face, throwing him backagainst thewoodenscaffoldingunder the wall,
whichbrokewithasharpcrashandburiedhimbeneathastackoftimber.
Geraltwas alreadyonhis feet,running,tracing asemi-circlearoundthe
courtyard, trying to draw the bruxa’s attention away from Nivellen. The
vampire, fluttering her white dress, scurried straight at him, light as a
butterfly,barelytouchingtheground.Shewasnolongerscreaming,nolonger
tryingtomorph.Thewitcherknewshewastired,andthatshewasstilllethal.
BehindGeralt’sback,Nivellenwasclatteringunderthescaffolding,roaring.
Geralt leapt to the left, executing a short moulinet with his sword to
confusethebruxaglidingtowardhim—whiteandblack,windblown,terrible.
He’d underestimated her. She screamed. He didn’t make the Sign in time,
flewbackwarduntilhethumpedagainstthewall.Thepaininhisspineshot
allthewaytothetipsofhisfingers,paralyzedhisshoulders,cuthimdownat
thelegs.Hefelltohisknees.Thebruxa,wailingmelodiously,jumpedtoward
him.
“Vereena!”roaredNivellen.
Sheturned—and Nivellenforcedthe sharpbrokenend ofathree-meter-
longpolebetweenherbreasts.Shedidn’tshout.Sheonlysighed.
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Thewitchershook,hearingthissigh.
Theystoodthere:Nivellen,onwidespreadlegs,waswieldingthepolein
bothhands,oneendfirmlysecuredunderhisarm.
Thebruxa,likea white butterfly onapin,hungonthe other end of the
stake,clutchingitwithbothhands.Thevampireexhaledexcruciatinglyand
suddenlypressedherselfhardagainstthestake.
Geraltwatchedaredstainbloomonherback,onthewhitedressthrough
whichthebrokentipemergedinageyserofblood:hideous,almostobscene.
Nivellenscreamed,tookonestepback,thenanother,retreatingfromher,but
hedidn’tletgoofthepoleanddraggedthebruxabehindhim.Onemorestep
andheleanedbackagainstthemansion.Theendofthepolescrapedagainst
thewall.
Slowly, as if a caress, the bruxa moved her tiny hands along the stake,
stretchedherarmsouttotheirfulllength,graspedthepolehardandpulledon
itagain.Overameterofbloodiedwoodalreadyprotrudedfromherback.Her
eyeswerewideopen,herheadflungback.Hersighsbecamemorefrequent
andrhythmic,turningintoarucklingwheeze.
Geraltstoodbut,fascinatedbythescene,stillcouldn’tmakehimselfact.
Heheardwordsresoundingdullywithinhisskull,asifechoingaroundacold,
dampdungeon.
Mine.Ornobody’s.Iloveyou.Loveyou.
Another terrible, vibrating sigh, choking in blood. The bruxa moved
furtheralongthepoleandstretchedoutherarms.Nivellenroareddesperately
and, without letting go of the stake, tried to push the vampire as far from
himselfaspossible—butinvain.Shepulledherselfcloser andgrabbedhim
by the head. He wailed horrifically and tossed his hairy head. The bruxa
movedalongthepoleagainandtiltedherheadtowardNivellen’sthroat.The
fangsflashedablindingwhite.
Geraltjumped.Everymovehemade,everystep,waspartofhisnature:
hard-learned, automatic and lethally sure. Three quick steps, and the third,
likeahundredsuchstepsbefore,finishedontheleftlegwithastrong,firm
stamp.Atwistofhistorsoandasharp,forcefulcut.Hesawhereyes.Nothing
couldchangenow.Heheardthevoice.Nothing.Heyelled,todrowntheword
whichshewasrepeating.Nothingcouldchange.Hecut.
Hestruckdecisively,likehundredsoftimesbefore,withthecenterofthe
blade,andimmediately,followingtherhythmofthemovement,tookafourth
step and half a turn. The blade, freed by the half-turn, floated after him,
shining,drawingafanofreddropletsinitswake.Thestreamingraven-black
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hairfloatedintheair,floated,floated,floated…
Theheadfellontothegravel.
Therearefewerandfewermonsters?
AndI?WhatamI?
Who’sshouting?Thebirds?
Thewomaninasheepskinjacketandbluedress?
TherosesfromNazair?
Howquiet!
Howempty.Whatemptiness.
Withinme.
Nivellen, curled up in a bundle, sheltering his head in his arms and
shakingwithtwitchesandshivers,waslyinginthenettlesbythemanorwall.
“Getup,”saidthewitcher.
Theyoung,handsome,well-builtmanwithapalecomplexionlyingbythe
wallraisedhisheadandlookedaround.Hiseyeswerevague.Herubbedthem
withhisknuckles.Helookedat his hands, felt his face. He moaned quietly
and,puttinghisfingerinhismouth,ranitalonghisgumsforalongtime.He
grasped his face again and moaned as he touched the four bloody, swollen
streaksonhischeek.Heburstoutsobbing,thenlaughed.
“Geralt!Howcome?Howdidthis—Geralt!”
“Getup,Nivellen.Getupandcomealong.I’vegotsomemedicineinmy
saddlebags.Webothneedit.”
“I’venolongergot…Ihaven’t,haveI?Geralt?Why?”
Thewitcherhelped himgetup,trying not tolookatthe tinyhands—so
paleastobetransparent—clenchedaroundthepolestuckbetweenthesmall
breastswhichwerenowplasteredwithawetredfabric.
Nivellenmoanedagain.“Vereena—”
“Don’tlook.Let’sgo.”
They crossed the courtyard, holding each other up, and passed the blue
rosebush.
Nivellen kept touching his face with his free hand. “Incredible, Geralt.
Aftersomanyyears?How’sitpossible?”
“There’s a grain of truth in every fairy tale,” said the witcher quietly.
“Love and blood. They both possess a mighty power. Wizards and learned
men have been racking their brains over this for years, but they haven’t
arrivedatanythingexceptthat—”
“Thatwhat,Geralt?”
“Ithastobetruelove.”
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72
THEVOICEOFREASON
73
I
“I’mFalwick,CountofMoën.AndthisknightisTailles,fromDorndal.”
Geralt bowed cursorily, looking at the knights. Both wore armor and
crimsoncloakswiththeemblemoftheWhiteRoseontheirleftshoulder.He
wassomewhatsurprisedas,sofarasheknew,therewasnoCommanderyof
thatOrderintheneighborhood.
Nenneke,toallappearancessmilinglightheartedlyandatease,noticedhis
surprise.
“These nobly born gentlemen,” she said casually, settling herself more
comfortably in her throne-like armchair, “are in the service of Duke
Hereward,whogovernstheselandsmostmercifully.”
“Prince.”Tailles,theyoungeroftheknights,correctedheremphatically,
fixinghishostilepaleblueeyesonthepriestess.“PrinceHereward.”
“Let’snotwastetimewithdetailsandtitles.”Nennekesmiledmockingly.
“Inmyday,onlythosewithroyalbloodwereaddressedasprinces,butnow,it
seems, titles don’t mean so much. Let’s get back to our introductions, and
whytheKnightsoftheWhiteRosearevisitingmyhumbletemple.Youknow,
Geralt, that the Chapter is requesting investitures for the Order from
Hereward, which is why so many Knights of the Rose have entered his
service. And a number of locals, like Tailles here, have taken vows and
assumedtheredcloakwhichbecomeshimsowell.”
“Myhonor.”Thewitcherbowedoncemore,justascursorilyasbefore.
“I doubt it,” the priestess remarked coldly. “They haven’t come here to
honoryou.Quitetheopposite.They’vearriveddemandingthatyouleaveas
soonaspossible.Inshort,they’reheretochaseyouout.Youconsiderthatan
honor?Idon’t.Iconsideritaninsult.”
“The noble knights have troubled themselves for no reason.” Geralt
shrugged.“Idon’tintendtosettlehere.I’mleavingofmyownaccordwithout
anyadditionalincentives,andsoonatthat.”
“Immediately,”growledTailles.“Withnotamoment’sdelay.Theprince
orders—”
“In this temple, I give the orders,” interrupted Nenneke in a cold,
authoritativevoice.“Iusuallytrytoensuremyordersdon’tconflicttoomuch
with Hereward’s politics, as far as those politics are logical and
understandable.Inthiscasetheyareirrational,soIwon’ttreatthemanymore
seriouslythantheydeserve.Geralt,witcherofRivia,ismyguest.Hisstayisa
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pleasuretome.Sohewillstayinmytempleforaslongashewishes.”
“Youhavetheaudacitytocontradicttheprince,woman?”Taillesshouted,
thenthrewhiscloakbackoverhisshouldertorevealhisgrooved,brass-edged
breastplateinallitssplendor.“Youdaretoquestionourrulersauthority?”
“Quiet,” Nenneke snapped, and narrowed her eyes. “Lower your voice.
Haveacarewhoyouspeaktolikethat.”
“I know who I’mtalking to!” The knightadvanced a step. Falwick,the
olderknight,grabbedhimfirmlybytheelbowandsqueezeduntilthearmor-
platedgauntletgrated.Taillesyankedfuriously.“Andmywordsexpressthe
prince’swill,thelordofthisestate!Wehavegotsoldiersintheyard,woman
—”
Nennekereachedintothepurseatherbeltandtookoutasmallporcelain
jar.“Ireallydon’tknow,”shesaidcalmly,“whatwillhappenifIsmashthis
container at your feet, Tailles. Maybe your lungs will burst. Maybe you’ll
growfur.Ormaybeboth,whoknows?OnlymercifulMelitele.”
“Don’tdarethreatenmewithyourspells,priestess!Oursoldiers—”
“If any one of your soldiers touches one of Melitele’s priestesses, they
will hang, before dusk, from the acacias along the road to town. And they
knowthatverywell.Asdoyou,Tailles,sostopactinglikeafool.Idelivered
you,youshittybrat,andIpityyourmother,butdon’ttemptfate.Anddon’t
forcemetoteachyoumanners!”
“All right, all right,” the witcher butted in, growing bored. “It looks as
though I’m becoming the cause of a serious conflict and I don’t see why I
should.SirFalwick,youlookmorelevelheadedthanyourcompanionwho,I
see,isbesidehimselfwithyouthfulenthusiasm.Listen,Falwick,Iassureyou
thatI willleaveina fewdays.I alsoassureyouthat Ihaveno intentionto
workhere,toundertakeanycommissionsororders.I’mnothereasawitcher,
butonpersonalbusiness.”
Count Falwick met his eyes and Geralt realized his mistake. There was
pure, unwavering hatred in the White Rose knight’s eyes. The witcher was
surethat it was not Duke Hereward who waschasing him out,but Falwick
andhislike.
TheknightturnedtoNenneke,bowedwithrespectandbegantospeak.He
spokecalmlyandpolitely.Hespokelogically.ButGeraltknewFalwickwas
lyingthroughhisteeth.
“VenerableNenneke,Iaskyourforgiveness,butPrinceHerewardwillnot
toleratethepresenceofthiswitcheronhislands.Itisofnoimportanceifheis
hunting monsters or claims to be here on personal business—the prince
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knowsthatwitchers do not undertakepersonalbusiness.But they do attract
troublelikeamagnetfilings.Thewizardsarerebellingandwritingpetitions,
thedruidsarethreatening—”
“Idon’tseewhyGeraltshouldbeartheconsequencesoftheunrulinessof
local wizards and druids,” interrupted the priestess. “Since when has
Herewardbeeninterestedineithersopinion?”
“Enoughofthisdiscussion.”Falwickstiffened.“HaveInotmademyself
sufficiently clear, venerable Nenneke? I will make it so clear as can’t be
clearer: neither the prince nor the Chapter of the Order will tolerate the
presenceofthiswitcher,Geralt,theButcherofBlaviken,inEllanderforone
moreday.”
“This isn’t Ellander!” The priestess sprang from her chair. “This is the
templeofMelitele! AndI,Nenneke,thehigh priestess ofMelitele,will not
tolerateyourpresenceontemplegroundsaminutelonger,sirs!”
“Sir Falwick,” the witcher said quietly, “listen to the voice of reason. I
don’twantanytrouble,nordoIbelievethatyouparticularlycareforit.I’ll
leavethisneighborhoodwithinthreedays.No,Nenneke,don’tsayanything,
please.It’stimeformetobeonmyway.Threedays.Idon’taskformore.”
“Andyou’rerightnottoask.”ThepriestessspokebeforeFalwickcould
react. “Did you hear, boys? The witcher will remain here for three days
because that’s his fancy. And I, priestess of Great Melitele, will for those
three days be his host, for that is my fancy. Tell that to Hereward. No, not
Hereward.Tellthattohiswife,thenobleErmellia,addingthatifshewantsto
continue receiving an uninterrupted supply of aphrodisiacs from my
pharmacy, she’d better calm her duke down. Let her curb his humors and
whims,whichlookevermorelikesymptomsofidiocy.”
“Enough!” Tailles shouted so shrilly his voice broke into a falsetto. “I
don’tintendtostandbyandlistenassomecharlataninsultsmylordandhis
wife!Iwillnotletsuchaninsultpassunnoticed!ItistheOrderoftheWhite
Rose which will rule here, now; it’s the end of your nests of darkness and
superstitions.AndI,aKnightoftheWhiteRose—”
“Shut up, you brat,” interrupted Geralt, smiling nastily. “Halt your
uncontrolled little tongue. You speak to a lady who deserves respect,
especiallyfromaKnightoftheWhiteRose.Admittedly,tobecomeoneit’s
enough,lately,topayathousandNovigradcrownsintotheChapterstreasury,
so the Orders full of sons of moneylenders and tailors—but surely some
mannershavesurvived?ButmaybeI’mmistaken?”
Taillesgrewpaleandreachedtohisside.
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“SirFalwick,”saidGeralt,notceasingto smile.“Ifhedrawshissword,
I’lltakeitfromhimandbeatthesnotty-nosedlittlebrat’sarsewiththeflatof
hisblade.AndthenI’llbatterthedoordownwithhim.”
Tailles,hishandsshaking,pulledanirongauntletfromhisbeltand,witha
crash,threwittothegroundatthewitchersfeet.
“I’ll wash away the insult to the Order with your blood, mutant!” he
yelled.“Onbeatenground!Gointotheyard!”
“You’vedroppedsomething,son,”Nenneke said calmly. “So pickitup;
we don’t leave rubbish here. This is a temple. Falwick, take that fool from
hereorthiswillendingrief.Youknowwhatyou’retotellHereward.AndI’ll
writeapersonallettertohim;youdon’tlookliketrustworthymessengersto
me.Getoutofhere.Youcanfindyourwayout,Ihope?”
Falwick, restraining the enraged Tailles with an iron grip, bowed, his
armorclattering.Thenhelookedthewitcherintheeyes.Thewitcherdidn’t
smile.Falwickthrewhiscrimsoncloakoverhisshoulders.
“Thiswasn’tourlastvisit,venerableNenneke,”hesaid.“We’llbeback.”
“That’s just what I’m afraid of,” replied the priestess coldly. “The
displeasure’smine.”
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THELESSEREVIL
78
I
Asusual,catsandchildrennoticedhimfirst.Astripedtomcatsleepingona
sun-warmedstackofwood,shuddered,raisedhisroundhead,pulledbackhis
ears, hissed and bolted off into the nettles. Three-year-old Dragomir,
fishermanTrigla’sson,whowassittingonthehut’sthresholddoinghisbest
tomakedirtieranalreadydirtyshirt,startedtoscreamashefixedhistearful
eyesonthepassingrider.
The witcher rode slowly, without trying to overtake the hay-cart
obstructingthe road.Aladendonkey trottedbehindhim, stretchingitsneck
andconstantlypullingthecordtiedtothewitcherspommeltight.Inaddition
totheusualbags,thelong-earedanimalwasluggingalargeshape,wrapped
inasaddlecloth,onitsback.Thegray-whiteflanksoftheasswerecovered
withblackstreaksofdriedblood.
Thecartfinallyturneddownasidestreetleadingtoagranaryandharbor
fromwhichaseabreezeblew,carryingthestinkoftarandox’surine.Geralt
pickeduphispace.Hedidn’treacttothemuffledcryofthewomanselling
vegetableswhowasstaringatthebony,talonedpawstickingoutbeneaththe
horseblanket,bobbingupanddownintimewiththedonkey’strot.Hedidn’t
lookroundatthecrowdgatheringbehindhimandripplingwithexcitement.
Therewere,asusual,manycartsinfrontofthealderman’shouse.Geralt
jumpedfromthesaddle,adjustedtheswordonhisbackandthrewthereins
over the wooden barrier. The crowd following him formed a semi-circle
aroundthedonkey.
Evenoutside,thealderman’sshoutswereaudible.
“It’s forbidden,Itell you!Forbidden,goddammit! Can’tyouunderstand
whatIsay,youscoundrel?”
Geraltentered.Infrontofthealderman,small,podgyandredwithrage,
stoodavillagerholdingastrugglinggoosebytheneck.
“What—Byall thegods!Is thatyou,Geralt?Domyeyesdeceiveme?”
Andturningtothepeasantagain:“Takeitaway,youboor!Areyoudeaf?”
“They said,” mumbled the villager, squinting at the goose, “that a wee
somethingmustbegiventohislordship,otherways—”
“Whosaid?”yelledthealderman.“Who?ThatIsupposedlytakebribes?I
won’tallowit,Isay!Awaywithyou!Greetings,Geralt.”
“Greetings,Caldemeyn.”
Thealdermansqueezedthewitchershand,slappedhimontheshoulder.
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“Youhaven’tbeenhereforagoodtwoyears,Geralt.Eh?Youcanneverstay
inoneplaceforlong,canyou?Whereareyoucomingfrom?Ah,dog’sarse,
what’sthedifferencewhere?Hey,somebodybringussomebeer!Sitdown,
Geralt,sitdown.It’smayhemherebecausewe’vethemarkettomorrow.How
arethingswithyou,tellme!”
“Later.Comeoutsidefirst.”
The crowd outside had grown twofold but the empty space around the
donkeyhadn’tgrownanysmaller.Geraltthrewthehorseblanketaside.The
crowdgaspedandpulledback.Caldemeyn’smouthfellopen.
“Byallthegods,Geralt!Whatisit?”
“Akikimora.Isthereanyrewardforit?”
Caldemeynshiftedfromfoottofoot,lookingatthespideryshapewithits
dryblackskin,thatglassyeyewithitsverticalpupil,theneedle-likefangsin
thebloodyjaws.
“Where—Fromwhere—?”
“On the dyke, not some four miles from town. On the swamps.
Caldemeyn,peoplemusthavedisappearedthere.Children.”
“Well, yes, true enough. But nobody—Who could have guessed—Hey,
folks,gohome,getbacktowork!Thisisn’tashow!Coveritup,Geralt.Flies
aregathering.”
Backinside,thealdermangrabbedalargejugofbeerwithoutawordand
drankittothelastdropinonedraught.Hesigheddeeplyandsniffed.
“There’snoreward,”hesaidgloomily.“Noonesuspectedthattherewas
something like that lurking in the salt marshes. It’s true that several people
have disappeared in those parts, but…Hardly anyone loitered on that dyke.
Andwhywereyouthere?Whyweren’tyoutakingthemainroad?”
“It’shardformetomakealivingonmainroads,Caldemeyn.”
“Iforgot.”Thealdermansuppressedabelch,puffingouthischeeks.“And
thisusedtobesuchapeacefulneighborhood.Evenimpsonlyrarelypissedin
the women’s milk. And here, right next to us, some sort of felispectre. It’s
onlyfittingthatIthankyou.Becauseasforpayingyou,Ican’t.Ihaven’tthe
funds.”
“That’sashame.Icoulddowithasmallsumtogetthroughthewinter.”
Thewitchertookasipfromhisjug,wipedawaythefroth.“I’mmakingmy
waytoYspaden,butIdon’tknowifI’llgettherebeforethesnowsblockthe
way.ImightgetstuckinoneofthelittletownsontheLutonskiroad.”
“DoyouplantostaylonginBlaviken?”
“No.I’venotimetowaste.Winterscoming.”
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“Whereareyougoingtostay?Withmeperhaps?There’sanemptyroom
in the attic. Why getfleecedby the innkeepers, thosethieves.We’ll have a
chatandyoucantellmewhat’shappeninginthebig,wideworld.”
“Willingly. But what will Libushe have to say about it? It was quite
obviouslasttimethatshe’snotverykeenonme.”
“Women don’t have a say in my house. But, just between us, don’t do
whatyoudidduringsupperlasttimeinfrontofheragain.”
“YoumeanwhenIthrewmyforkatthatrat?”
“No.Imeanwhenyouhitit,eveninthedark.”
“Ithoughtitwouldbeamusing.”
“It was. But don’t do it in front of Libushe. And listen, this…what’s it
called…kiki—”
“Kikimora.”
“Doyouneeditforanything?”
“WhatwouldIwantitfor?Youcanhavethemthrowitinthecesspoolif
there’snorewardforit.”
“That’s not a bad idea. Hey, Karelka, Borg, Carry-pebble! Any of you
there?”
Atownguardenteredwithahalberdonhisshoulder,thebladecatching
thedoorframewithacrash.
“Carrypebble,”saidCaldemeyn.“Getsomebodytohelpyouandtakethe
donkey with that muck wrapped up in the horse blanket, lead it past the
pigstiesandchuckthekikimorainthecesspool.Understood?”
“Atyourcommand.But…Alderman,sir—”
“What?”
“Maybebeforewedrownthathideousthing—”
“Well?”
“WecouldshowittoMasterIrion.Itmightbeusefultohim.”
Caldemeynslappedhisforeheadwithhisopenpalm.
“You’re not stupid,Carrypebble. Listen, Geralt, maybeour local wizard
willspareyousomethingforthatcarcass.Thefishermenbringhimtheoddest
offish—octopedes,clabatersorherrongs—manyhavemadesomemoneyon
them.Comeon,let’sgotothetower.”
“You’vegotyourselvesawizard?Ishehereforgoodoronlypassing?”
“For good. Master Irion. He’s been living in Blaviken for a year. A
powerfulmagus,Geralt,you’llseethatfromhisveryappearance.”
“I doubt whether a powerful magus will pay for a kikimora,” Geralt
grimaced.“Asfar asIknow, it’snot needed foranyelixirs.Your Irion will
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onlyinsultme,nodoubt.Wewitchersandwizardsdon’tloveeachother.”
“I’veneverheardofMasterIrioninsultinganyone.Ican’tswearthathe’ll
pay you but there’s noharmin trying. There mightbemore kikimoras like
thatonthe marshes and what then? Let the wizard look at the monster and
castsomesortofspellonthemarshlandsorsomething,justincase.”
Thewitcherthoughtforamoment.
“Verywell,Caldemeyn.Whattheheck,we’llriskameetingwithMaster
Irion.Shallwego?”
“We’re off. Carrypebble, chase the kids away and bring the floppyears.
Where’smyhat?”
82
II
Thetower,builtfromsmoothlyhewnblocksofgraniteandcrownedbytooth-
likebattlements,wasimpressive,dominatingthebrokentilesofhomesteads
anddipping-roofedthatchedcottages.
“He’srenovatedit,Isee,”remarkedGeralt.“Withspells,ordidhehave
youworkingatit?”
“Spells,chiefly.”
“What’shelike,thisIrion?”
“Decent.Hehelpspeople.Buthe’sarecluse,doesn’tsaymuch.Herarely
leavesthetower.”
On the door, which was adorned with a rosace inlaid with pale wood,
hungahugeknockerintheshapeofaflatbulging-eyedfish-headholdinga
brass ring in its toothed jaws. Caldemeyn, obviously well-versed with the
workingsofitsmechanics,approached,clearedhisthroatandrecited:
“AldermanCaldemeyngreetsyouwithacaseforMasterIrion.Withhim
greetsyou,WitcherGeralt,withrespecttothesamecase.”
Foralongmomentnothinghappened;thenfinallythefish-headmovedits
toothedmandiblesandbelchedacloudofsteam.
“MasterIrionisnotreceiving.Leave,mygoodpeople.”
Caldemeyn waddled on the spot and looked at Geralt. The witcher
shrugged.Carrypebblepickedhisnosewithseriousconcentration.
“Master Irion is not receiving,” the knocker repeated metallically. “Go,
mygood—”
“I’m not a good person,” Geralt broke in loudly. “I’m a witcher. That
thingonthedonkeyisakikimora,andIkilleditnotfarfromtown.Itisthe
duty of every resident wizard to look after the safety of the neighborhood.
MasterIriondoesnothavetohonormewithconversation,doesnothaveto
receiveme,ifthatishiswill.Butlethimexaminethekikimoraanddrawhis
ownconclusions.Carrypebble,unstrapthekikimoraandthrowitdownbythe
door.”
“Geralt,”thealdermansaidquietly.“You’regoingtoleavebutI’mgoing
tohaveto—”
“Let’sgo,Caldemeyn.Carrypebble,takethatfingeroutofyournoseand
doasIsaid.”
“Onemoment,”theknockersaidinanentirelydifferenttone.“Geralt,is
thatreallyyou?”
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Thewitchersworequietly.
“I’mlosingpatience.Yes,it’sreallyme.Sowhat?”
“Come up to the door,” said the knocker, puffing out a small cloud of
steam.“Alone.I’llletyouin.”
“Whataboutthekikimora?”
“To hell with it. I want to talk to you, Geralt. Just you. Forgive me,
Alderman.”
“What’s it to me, Master Irion?” Caldemeyn waved the matter aside.
“Takecare,Geralt.We’llseeeachotherlater.Carrypebble!Intothecesspool
withthemonster!”
“Asyoucommand.”
The witcher approached the inlaid door, which opened a little bit—just
enoughforhimtosqueezethrough—andthenslammedshut,leavinghimin
completedarkness.
“Hey!”heshouted,nothidinghisanger.
“Justamoment,”answeredastrangelyfamiliarvoice.
The feeling was so unexpected that the witcher staggered and stretched
outhishand,lookingforsupport.Hedidn’tfindany.
The orchard was blossoming with white and pink, and smelled of rain.
The sky was split by the many-colored arc of a rainbow, which bound the
crownsofthetreestothedistant,bluechainofmountains.Thehousenestled
intheorchard,tinyandmodest,wasdrowninginhollyhocks.Geraltlooked
downanddiscoveredthathewasuptohiskneesinthyme.
“Well,comeon,Geralt,”saidthevoice.“I’minfrontofthehouse.”
Heenteredtheorchard,walkingthroughthetrees.Henoticedamovement
tohisleftandlookedround.A fair-hairedgirl, entirely naked, was walking
alongarowofshrubscarryingabasketfullofapples.Thewitchersolemnly
promisedhimselfthatnothingwouldsurprisehimanymore.
“Atlast.Greetings,witcher.”
“Stregobor!”Geraltwassurprised.
During his life, the witcher had met thieves who looked like town
councilors, councilors who looked like beggars, harlots who looked like
princesses, princesses who looked like calving cows and kings who looked
like thieves. But Stregobor always looked as, according to every rule and
notion,awizardshouldlook.Hewastall,thinandstooping,withenormous
bushygrayeyebrowsandalong,crookednose.Totopitoff,heworeablack,
trailingrobewithimprobablywidesleeves,andwieldedalongstaffcapped
withacrystalknob.NoneofthewizardsGeraltknewlookedlikeStregobor.
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MostsurprisingofallwasthatStregoborwas,indeed,awizard.
They sat in wicker chairs at a white marble-topped table on a porch
surrounded by hollyhocks. The naked blonde with the apple basket
approached,smiled,turnedand,swayingherhips,returnedtotheorchard.
“Isthatanillusion,too?”askedGeralt,watchingthesway.
“Itis.Likeeverythinghere.Butitis,myfriend,afirst-classillusion.The
flowerssmell,youcaneatthe apples, the bee can sting you, and she”—the
wizardindicatedtheblonde—“youcan—”
“Maybelater.”
“Quiteright.Whatareyoudoinghere,Geralt?Areyoustilltoilingaway,
killing the last representatives of dying species for money? How much did
yougetforthekikimora?Nothing,Iguess,oryouwouldn’thavecomehere.
Andto thinkthattherearepeoplewhodon’tbelieve indestiny. Unlessyou
knewaboutme.Didyou?”
“No,Ididn’t.It’sthelastplaceIcouldhaveexpectedyou.Ifmymemory
servesmecorrectly,youusedtoliveinasimilartowerinKovir.”
“Agreatdealhaschangedsincethen.”
“Suchasyourname.Apparently,you’reMasterIrionnow.”
“That’sthename oftheman whocreatedthistower.Hediedabouttwo
hundredyearsago, andIthoughtit righttohonor him insomeway since I
occupiedhisabode.I’mlivinghere.Mostoftheinhabitantsliveoffthesea
and,asyouknow,myspeciality,apartfromillusions,isweather.Sometimes
I’ll calm a storm, sometimes conjure one up, sometimes drive schools of
whiting and cod closer to the shoreswith the westerly wind. I can survive.
Thatis,”headded,miserably,“Icould.”
“Howcome‘Icould’?Whythechangeofname?”
“Destinyhasmanyfaces.Mineisbeautifulontheoutsideandhideouson
theinside.Shehasstretchedherbloodytalonstowardme—”
“You’venot changedabit,Stregobor.”Geraltgrimaced.“You’retalking
nonsense while making wise and meaningful faces. Can’t you speak
normally?”
“Ican,”sighedthewizard.“Icanifthatmakesyouhappy.Imadeitall
the way here, hiding and running from a monstrous being that wants to
murder me. My escape proved in vain—it found me. In all probability, it’s
goingtotrytokillmetomorrow,oratthelatest,thedayafter.”
“Aha,”saidthewitcherdispassionately.“NowIunderstand.”
“Myfacingdeathdoesn’timpressyoumuch,doesit?”
“Stregobor,”saidGeralt,“that’sthewayoftheworld.Oneseesallsortsof
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thingswhenonetravels.Twopeasantskilleachotheroverafieldwhich,the
followingday,willbetrampledflatbytwocountsandtheirretinuestryingto
kill each other off. Men hang from trees at the roadside; brigands slash
merchants’throats.Ateverystepintownyoutripovercorpsesinthegutters.
In palaces they stabeach other with daggers,and somebody falls underthe
tableatabanqueteveryminute,bluefrompoisoning.I’musedtoit.Sowhy
shouldadeaththreatimpressme,andonedirectedatyouatthat?”
“One directed at me at that,” Stregobor repeated with a sneer. “And I
consideredyouafriend.Countedonyourhelp.”
“Ourlastmeeting,”saidGeralt,“wasinthecourtofKingIdiofKovir.I’d
cometo bepaidfor killingtheamphisboenawhichhad beenterrorizingthe
neighborhood. You and your compatriot Zavist vied with each other to call
me a charlatan, a thoughtless murdering machine and a scavenger.
Consequently,notonlydidn’tIdipaymeapenny,hegavemetwelvehoursto
leaveKovirand,sincehishourglasswasbroken,Ibarelymadeit.Andnow
yousayyou’recountingonmyhelp.Yousayamonstersafteryou.Whatare
youafraidof,Stregobor?Ifitcatchesupwithyou,tellityoulikemonsters,
thatyouprotectthemandmakesurenowitcherscavengerevertroublestheir
peace. Indeed, if the monster disembowels and devours you, it’ll prove
terriblyungrateful.”
Thewizardturnedhisheadawaysilently.Geraltlaughed.“Don’tgetall
puffed up like a frog, magician. Tell me what’s threatening you. We’ll see
whatcanbedone.”
“HaveyouheardoftheCurseoftheBlackSun?”
“Butofcourse.ExceptthatitwascalledtheManiaofMadEltibaldafter
thewizard whostartedthelarkand causeddozensof girlsfromgood, even
noble,familiestobemurderedorimprisonedintowers.Theyweresupposed
tohavebeenpossessedbydemons,cursed,contaminatedbytheBlackSun,
because that’s what, in your pompous jargon, you called the most ordinary
eclipseintheworld.”
“Eltibaldwasn’tmadatall.HedecipheredthewritingonDaukmenhirs,
on tombstones in the Wozgor necropolises, and examined the legends and
traditionsofweretots.Allofthemspokeoftheeclipseinnouncertainterms.
TheBlackSunwastoannouncetheimminentreturnofLilit,stillhonoredin
the East under the nameof Niya, and the exterminationofthe human race.
Lilit’s path was to be prepared by ‘sixty women wearinggoldcrowns,who
wouldfilltherivervalleyswithblood.’”
“Nonsense,” said the witcher. “And what’s more, it doesn’t rhyme. All
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decentpredictionsrhyme.EveryoneknowswhatEltibaldandtheCouncilof
Wizardshadinmindatthetime.Youtookadvantageofamadman’sravings
to strengthen your own authority. To break up alliances, ruin marriage
allegiances, stir up dynasties. In a word: to tangle the strings of crowned
puppetsevenmore.Andhereyouarelecturingmeaboutpredictions,which
anyoldstorytelleratthemarketplacewouldbeashamedof.”
“YoucanhaveyourreservationsaboutEltibald’stheories,abouthowthe
predictionswereinterpreted.Butyoucan’tchallengethefactthattherehave
beenhorrendousmutationsamonggirlsbornjustaftertheeclipse.”
“Andwhynot?I’veheardquitetheopposite.”
“Iwaspresentwhentheydidanautopsyononeofthem,”saidthewizard.
“Geralt,whatwefoundinsidetheskullandmarrowcouldnotbedescribed.
Somesortofredsponge.Theinternalorganswereallmixedup,somewere
missing completely. Everything was covered in moving cilia, bluish-pink
shreds. The heart was six-chambered, with two chambers practically
atrophied.Whatdoyousaytothat?”
“I’ve seen people with eagles’ talons instead of hands, people with a
wolfs fangs. People with additional joints,additional organsand additional
senses.Allofwhichweretheeffectsofyourmessingaboutwithmagic.”
“You’ve seen all sorts of mutations, you say.” The magician raised his
head.“And howmanyof themhaveyou slaughteredformoney, inkeeping
withyourwitcherscalling?Well?Becauseonecanhaveawolfsfangsand
gonofurtherthanbaringthematthetrollopsintaverns,oronecanhave a
wolfs nature, too, and attack children. And that’s just how it was with the
girls who were born after the eclipse. Their outright insane tendency to
cruelty, aggression, sudden bursts of anger and an unbridled temperament
werenoted.”
“You can say that about any woman,” sneered Geralt. “What are you
driveling on about? You’re asking me how many mutants I’ve killed. Why
aren’t you interested in how many I’ve extricated from spells, freed from
curses?I, awitcherdespised byyou.Andwhathaveyoudone,you mighty
magicians?”
“A higher magic was used. Ours and that of the priests, in various
temples.Allattemptsendedinthegirls’deaths.”
“Thatspeaksbadlyofyou,notthegirls.Andsowe’venowgotthefirst
corpses.Itakeittheonlyautopsiesweredoneonthem?”
“No.Don’tlookatmelikethat;youknowverywellthatthereweremore
corpses,too.Itwasinitiallydecidedtoeliminateallofthem.Wegotridofa
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few…autopsies were done on all of them. One of them was even
vivisectioned.”
“And you sons of bitches have the nerve to criticize witchers? Oh,
Stregobor, the day will come when people will learn, and get the better of
you.”
“Idon’tthinkadaylikethatwillcomesoon,”saidthewizardcaustically.
“Don’tforgetthat we wereacting inthe people’s defense.The mutant girls
wouldhavedrownedentirecountriesinblood.”
“Sosayyou magicians, turningyournosesup, so high andmightywith
youraurasofinfallibility.Whilewe’reonthesubject,surelyyou’renotgoing
totellmethatinyourhuntfortheseso-calledmutantsyouhaven’toncemade
amistake?”
“Allright,”said Stregobor afteralongsilence.“I’ll be honest,although
for my own sake I shouldn’t. We did make a mistake—more than one.
Picking them out was extremely difficult. And that’s why we stopped…
gettingridofthem,andstartedisolatingtheminstead.”
“Yourfamoustowers,”snortedthewitcher.
“Our towers. But that was another mistake. We underestimated them.
Manyescaped.Thensomemadfashiontofreeimprisonedbeautiestookhold
ofprinces,especailytheyoungerones,whodidn’thavemuchtodoandstill
lesstolose.Mostofthem,fortunately,twistedtheirnecks—”
“AsfarasIknow,thoseimprisonedinthetowersdiedquickly.It’sbeen
saidyoumusthavehelpedthemsomewhat.”
“That’s a lie. But it is true thatthey quicklyfell into apathy, refused to
eat…Whatisinterestingisthatshortlybeforetheydied,theyshowedsignsof
thegiftofclairvoyance.Furtherproofofmutation.”
“Yourproofsarebecomingeverlessconvincing.Doyouhaveanymore?”
“Ido.Silvena,theladyofNarok,whomwenevermanagedtogetcloseto
becauseshegainedpowersoquickly.TerriblethingsarehappeninginNarok
now.Fialka,Evermirsdaughter,escapedhertowerusingahomemaderope
andisnowterrorizingNorthVelhad.BernikaofTalgarwasfreedbyanidiot
prince.Nowhe’ssittinginadungeon,blinded,andthemostcommonfeature
oftheTalgarlandscapeisasetofgallows.Thereareotherexamples,too.”
“Of course there are,” said the witcher. “In Yamurlak, for instance, old
man Abrad reigns. He’s got scrofula, not a single tooth in his head, was
probably born some hundred years before thiseclipse, and can’t fall asleep
unlesssomeone’sbeingtorturedtodeathinhispresence.He’swipedoutall
hisrelativesandemptiedhalfofthecountryincrazy—howdidyouputit?—
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attacksofanger.Therearealsotracesofarampanttemperament.Apparently
he was nicknamed Abrad Jack-up-the-Skirt in his youth. Oh, Stregobor, it
wouldbegreatifthecrueltyofrulerscouldbeexplainedawaybymutations
orcurses.”
“Listen,Geralt—”
“No. You won’t win me over with your reasons nor convince me that
Eltibad wasn’t a murdering madman, so let’s get back to the monster
threatening you. You’d better understand that, after the introduction you’ve
givenme,Idon’tlikethestory.ButI’llhearyouout.”
“Withoutinterruptingwithspitefulcomments?”
“ThatIcan’tpromise.”
“Oh well”—Stregobor slipped his hands into the sleeves of his robe
—“then it’ll only take longer. Well, the story begins in Creyden, a small
principalityin the north.ThewifeofFredefalk, thePrinceofCreyden, was
Aridea, a wise, educated woman. She had many exceptional adepts of the
magicalartsinherfamilyand—throughinheritance,nodoubt—shecameinto
possession of a rare and powerful artifact. One of Nehalenia’s Mirrors.
They’rechieflyusedbyprophetsandoraclesbecausetheypredictthefuture
accurately,albeitintricately.ArideaquiteoftenturnedtotheMirror—”
“With the usual question, I take it,” interrupted Geralt. “ ‘Who is the
fairest of them all?’ I know; all Nehalenia’s Mirrors are either polite or
broken.”
“You’rewrong.Arideawasmoreinterestedinhercountry’sfate.Andthe
Mirroransweredherquestionsbypredictingahorribledeathforherandfora
greatnumberofothersbythehand,orfault,ofFredefalk’sdaughterfromhis
firstmarriage.ArideaensuredthisnewsreachedtheCouncil,andtheCouncil
sent me to Creyden. I don’t have to add that Fredefalk’s firstborn daughter
wasbornshortlyaftertheeclipse.Iwasquitediscreetforalittlewhile.She
managed to torture a canary and two puppies during that time, and also
gougedoutaservant’seyewiththehandleofacomb.Icarriedoutafewtests
usingcurses,andmostofthemconfirmedthatthelittleonewasamutant.I
wenttoArideawiththenewsbecauseFredefalk’sdaughtermeanttheworld
tohim.Aridea,asIsaid,wasn’tstupid—”
“Of course,” Geralt interrupted again, “and no doubt she wasn’t head-
over-heels in love withher stepdaughter. She preferredher own children to
inherit the throne. I can guess what followed. How come nobody throttled
her?Andyou,too,whiletheywereatit.”
Stregoborsighed,raisedhiseyestoheaven,wheretherainbowwas still
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shimmeringcolorfullyandpicturesquely.
“Iwantedtoisolateher,butArideadecidedotherwise.Shesentthelittle
oneoutintotheforestwithahiredthug,atrapper.Wefoundhimlaterinthe
undergrowth…withoutanytrousers,soitwasn’thardtorecreatetheturnof
events. She had dug a brooch-pin into his brain, through his ear, no doubt
whilehisattentionwasonentirelydifferentmatters.”
“IfyouthinkIfeelsorryforhim,”mutteredGeralt,“thenyou’rewrong.”
“We organized a manhunt,” continued Stregobor, “but all traces of the
little one had disappeared. I had to leave Creyden in a hurry because
Fredefalk was beginning to suspect something. Then, four years later I
receivednewsfromAridea.She’dtrackeddownthelittleone,whowasliving
in Mahakam with seven gnomes whom she’d managed to convince it was
moreprofitabletorobmerchantsontheroadsthantopollutetheirlungswith
dustfromthe mines.Shewasknown as Shrikebecausesheliked to impale
the people she caught on a sharp pole while they were still alive. Several
timesArideahiredassassins,butnoneofthemreturned.Well,thenitbecame
hardtofindanyonetotry—Shrikehadalreadybecomequitefamous.She’d
learnedtouseaswordsowelltherewashardlyamanwhocoulddefyher.I
wassummoned,andarrivedinCreydensecretly,onlytolearnthatsomeone
had poisoned Aridea. It was generally believed that it was the work of
Fredefalk, who had found himself a younger, more robust mistress—but I
thinkitwasRenfri.”
“Renfri?”
“That’s what she was called. I said she’d poisoned Aridea. Shortly
afterward,Prince Fredefalkdiedin astrangehunting accident,andAridea’s
eldestsondisappeared without aword.Thatmust have beenthelittleone’s
doing, too. I say ‘little’ butshewas seventeen by then. Andshe waspretty
well-developed.
“Meanwhile,”thewizardpickedupafteramoment’sbreak,“sheandher
gnomeshadbecometheterrorofthewholeofMahakam.Until,oneday,they
arguedaboutsomething.Idon’tknowwhat—sharingouttheloot,orwhose
turnitwastospendthenightwithher—anyway,theyslaughteredeachother
withknives.OnlyShrikesurvived.Onlyher.AndIwasintheneighborhood
atthetime.Wemetface-to-face:sherecognizedmeinaflashandknewthe
partI’dplayedinCreyden.Itellyou,Geralt,Ihadbarelymanagedtouttera
curse—andmyhandswereshakinglikeanything—whenthatwildcatflewat
mewithasword.Iturnedherintoaneatslabofmountaincrystal,sixellsby
nine.Whenshefellintoalethargy,Ithrewtheslabintothegnomes’mineand
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broughtthetunnelsdownonit.”
“Shabbywork,”commentedGeralt.“Thatspellcouldhavebeenreversed.
Couldn’tyouhaveburnthertocinders?Youknowsomanynicespells,after
all.”
“No.It’snotmyspeciality.Butyou’reright.Ididmakeahashofit.Some
idiotprincefoundher,spentafortuneonacounter-curse,reversedthespell
andtriumphantlytookherhometosomeout-of-the-waykingdomintheeast.
His father, an old brigand, proved to have more sense. He gave his son a
hiding,andquestionedShrikeaboutthetreasureswhichsheandthegnomes
hadseizedandwhichshe’dhidden.Hismistakewastoallowhiseldersonto
assisthimwhenhehadherstretchedout,naked,ontheexecutionersbench.
Somehow,thefollowingday,thatsameeldestson—nowanorphanbereftof
siblings—was ruling the kingdom, and Shrike had taken over the office of
firstfavorite.”
“Meaningshecan’tbeugly.”
“That’samatteroftaste.Shewasn’tafavoriteforlong.Upuntilthefirst
coupd’étatatthepalace,togiveitagrandname—itwasmorelikeabarn.It
soonbecameclearthatshehadn’tforgottenaboutme.Shetriedtoassassinate
methreetimesinKovir.Idecidednottoriskafourthattemptandtowaither
outin Pontar. Again,shefound me.ThistimeIescaped toAngren,butshe
foundmetheretoo.Idon’tknowhowshedoesit.Icovermytraceswell.It
mustbeafeatureofhermutation.”
“What stopped you from casting another spell to turn her into crystal?
Scruples?”
“No.Idon’thaveanyofthose.Shehadbecomeresistanttomagic.”
“That’simpossible.”
“It’snot.It’senoughtohavetherightartifactoraura.Orthiscouldalso
beassociatedwithhermutation,whichisprogressing.IescapedfromAngren
andhidhere,inArcsea,inBlaviken.I’velivedinpeaceforayear,butshe’s
trackedmedownagain.”
“Howdoyouknow?Isshealreadyintown?”
“Yes.Isawherinthecrystalball.”Thewizardraisedhiswand.“She’snot
alone. She’s leading a gang, which shows that she’s brewing something
serious.Geralt,Idon’thaveanywhereelsetorun.Idon’tknowwhereIcould
hide. The fact that you’ve arrived here exactly at this time can’t be a
coincidence.It’sfate.”
Thewitcherraisedhiseyebrows.“What’sonyourmind?”
“Surelyit’sobvious.You’regoingtokillher.”
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“I’mnotahiredthug,Stregobor.”
“You’renotathug,agreed.”
“I kill monsters for money. Beasts which endanger people. Horrors
conjuredupbyspellsandsorceriescastbythelikesofyou.Notpeople.”
“She’s not human. She’s exactly a monster: a mutant, a cursed mutant.
You brought a kikimora here. Shrike’s worse than a kikimora. A kikimora
killsbecauseit’shungry,butShrikedoesitforpleasure.KillherandI’llpay
youwhateversumyouask.Withinreason,ofcourse.”
“I’ve already told you. I consider the story about mutations and Lilit’s
curseto be nonsense. The girl has her reasonsfor settling heraccount with
you, and I’m not going to get mixed up in it. Turn to the alderman, to the
townguards.You’rethetownwizard;you’reprotectedbymunicipallaw.”
“I spit on the law, the alderman and his help!” exploded Stregobor. “I
don’t need defense. I need you to kill her! Nobody’s going to get into this
tower—I’m completely safe here. But what’s that to me? I don’t intend to
spendtherestofmydayshere,andShrike’snotgoingtogiveupwhileI’m
alive.AmItosithere,inthistower,andwaitfordeath?”
“Theydid.Doyouknowwhat,magician?Youshouldhaveleftthathunt
forthegirlstoother,morepowerful,wizards.Youshouldhaveforeseenthe
consequences.”
“Please,Geralt.”
“No,Stregobor.”
The sorcerer was silent. The unreal sun in its unreal sky hadn’t moved
towardthezenithbutthewitcherknewitwasalreadyduskinBlaviken.He
felthungry.
“Geralt,”saidStregobor,“whenwewerelisteningtoEltibald,manyofus
haddoubts.Butwedecidedtoacceptthelesserevil.NowIaskyoutomakea
similarchoice.”
“Evilisevil,Stregobor,”saidthewitcherseriouslyashegotup.“Lesser,
greater, middling, it’s all the same. Proportions are negotiated, boundaries
blurred.I’m notapioushermit.I haven’tdoneonlygoodinmy life.Butif
I’mtochoosebetweenoneevilandanother,thenIprefernottochooseatall.
Timeformetogo.We’llseeeachothertomorrow.”
“Maybe,”saidthewizard.“Ifyougethereintime.”
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III
The Golden Court, the country town’s elegant inn, was crowded and noisy.
Theguests,localsandvisitors,weremostlyengagedinactivitiestypicalfor
their nation or profession. Serious merchants argued with dwarves over the
price of goods and credit interest. Less serious merchants pinched the
backsides of the girls carrying beer, cabbage and beans. Local nitwits
pretendedtobewell-informed.Harlotsweretrying topleasethosewhohad
moneywhilediscouragingthosewhohadnone.Cartersandfishermendrank
as if there were no tomorrow. Some seamen were singing a song which
celebrated the ocean waves, the courage of captains and the graces of
mermaids,thelattergraphicallyandinconsiderabledetail.
“Exert your memory, friend,” Caldemeyn said to the innkeeper, leaning
acrossthecounterinordertobeheardoverthedin.“Sixmenandawench,all
dressed in black leather studded with silver in the Novigradian style. I saw
themattheturnpike.AretheystayinghereoratTheTunaFish?”
Theinnkeeperwrinkledhisbulgingforeheadandwipedatankardonhis
stripedapron.
“Here,Alderman,”hefinallysaid.“Theysaythey’vecomeforthemarket
buttheyallcarryswords,eventhewoman.Dressed,asyousaid,inblack.”
“Well.” The alderman nodded. “Where are they now? I don’t see them
here.”
“Inthelesseralcove.Theypaidingold.”
“I’llgoinalone,”saidGeralt.“There’snopointinmakingthisanofficial
affairinfrontofthemall,atleastforthetimebeing.I’llbringherhere.”
“Maybethat’sbest.Butbecareful,Idon’twantanytrouble.”
“I’llbecareful.”
Theseamen’s song, judging bythe growing intensity of obscenewords,
wasreachingitsgrandfinale.Geraltdrewasidethecurtain—stiffandsticky
withdirt—whichhidtheentrancetothealcove.
Sixmenwereseatedatthetable.Shrikewasn’twiththem.
“What’d’you want?” yelled the man who noticed him first. He was
balding and his face was disfigured by a scar which ran across his left
eyebrow,thebridgeofhisnoseandhisrightcheek.
“IwanttoseeShrike.”
Two identical figures stood up—identical motionless faces and fair,
disheveled,shoulder-lengthhair,identicaltight-fittingblackoutfitsglistening
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withsilverornaments.Andwithidenticalmovements,thetwinstookidentical
swordsfromthebench.
“Keepcalm,Vyr.Sitdown,Nimir,”saidthemanwiththescar,leaninghis
elbows on the table. “Who d’you say you want to see, brother? Who’s
Shrike?”
“YouknowverywellwhoImean.”
“Who’sthis,then?”askedahalf-nakedathlete,sweaty, girdedcrosswise
with belts, and wearing spiked pads on his forearms. “D’you know him,
Nohorn?”
“No,”saidthemanwiththescar.
“It’ssomealbino,”giggledaslim,dark-hairedmansittingnexttoNohorn.
Delicatefeatures,enormousblackeyesandpointedearsbetrayedhimtobea
half-blood elf. “Albino, mutant, freak of nature. And this sort of thing is
allowedtoenterpubsamongdecentpeople.”
“I’ve seen him somewhere before,” said a stocky, weather-beaten man
withaplait,measuringGeraltwithanevillookinhisnarrowedeyes.
“Doesn’t matter where you’ve seen him, Tavik,” said Nohorn. “Listen
here.Civrilinsultedyouterriblyamomentago.Aren’tyougoingtochallenge
him?It’ssuchaboringevening.”
“No,”saidthewitchercalmly.
“And me, if I pour this fish soup over your head, are you going to
challengeme?”cackledthemansittingnakedtothewaist.
“Keepcalm, Fifteen,”saidNohorn.“Hesaidno,thatmeans no.Forthe
timebeing.Well,brother,saywhatyouhavetosayandclearout.You’vegot
one chance to clear out on your own. You don’t take it, the attendants will
carryyouout.”
“Idon’thaveanythingtosaytoyou.IwanttoseeShrike.Renfri.”
“Doyouhearthat,boys?”Nohornlookedaroundathiscompanions.“He
wantstoseeRenfri.AndmayIknowwhy?”
“No.”
Nohorn raised his head and looked at the twins as they took a step
forward,thesilverclaspsontheirhighbootsjangling.
“Iknow,”themanwiththeplaitsaidsuddenly.“IknowwhereI’veseen
himnow!”
“What’sthatyou’remumbling,Tavik?”
“Infrontofthealderman’shouse.Hebroughtsomesortofdragon into
trade, a cross between a spider and a crocodile. People were saying he’s a
witcher.”
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“Andwhat’sawitcher?”Fifteenasked.“Eh?Civril?”
“Ahiredmagician,”saidthehalf-elf.“Aconjurerforafistfulofsilver.I
toldyou,afreakofnature.Aninsulttohumananddivinelaws.Theyoughtto
beburned,thelikesofhim.”
“Wedon’tlikemagicians,”screechedTavik,nottakinghisnarrowedeyes
offGeralt.“Itseemstome,Civril,thatwe’regoingtohavemoreworkinthis
hole than we thought. There’s more than one of them here and everyone
knowstheysticktogether.”
“Birds of a feather.” The half-breed smiled maliciously. “To think the
likesofyouwalktheearth.Whospawnsyoufreaks?”
“A bitmoretolerance,if youplease,”saidGeralt calmly, “asIseeyour
mothermusthavewanderedoffthroughtheforestaloneoftenenoughtogive
yougoodreasontowonderwhereyoucomefromyourself.”
“Possibly,”answered thehalf-elf,the smilenotleavinghisface.“Butat
leastIknewmymother.Youwitcherscan’tsaythatmuchaboutyourselves.”
Geralt grew a little pale and tightened his lips. Nohorn, noticing it,
laughedoutloud.
“Well,brother,youcan’tletaninsultlikethatgoby.Thatthingthatyou
haveonyourbacklookslikeasword.So?AreyougoingoutsidewithCivril?
Theevening’ssoboring.”
Thewitcherdidn’treact.
“Shittycoward,”snortedTavik.
“What did he say about Civril’s mother?” Nohorn continued
monotonously, resting his chin on hisclasped hands.“Something extremely
nasty,asIunderstoodit.Thatshewasaneasylay,orsomething.Hey,Fifteen,
is it right to listen to some straggler insulting a companion’s mother? A
mother,yousonofabitch,issacred!”
Fifteen got up willingly, undid his sword and threw it on the table. He
stuck his chest out, adjusted the pads spiked with silver studs on his
shoulders,spatandtookastepforward.
“Ifyou’vegotanydoubts,”saidNohorn,“thenFifteenischallengingyou
toafistfight.Itoldyouthey’dcarryyououtofhere.Makeroom.”
Fifteenmovedcloserandraisedhisfists.Geraltputhishandonthehiltof
hissword.
“Careful,”hesaid.“Onemorestepandyou’llbelookingforyourhandon
thefloor.”
NohornandTavikleaptup,grabbingtheirswords.Thesilenttwinsdrew
theirs with identical movements. Fifteen stepped back. Only Civril didn’t
95
move.
“What’sgoingonhere,dammit?Can’tIleaveyoualoneforaminute?”
Geraltturnedroundveryslowlyandlookedintoeyesthecolorofthesea.
Shewasalmostastallashim.Sheworeherstraw-coloredhairunevenly
cut,justbelowtheears.Shestoodwithonehandonthedoor,wearingatight,
velvet jacket clasped with a decorated belt. Her skirt was uneven,
asymmetrical—reaching down toher calf on the left side and, onthe right,
revealingastrongthighaboveabootmadeofelk’sleather.Onherleftside,
shecarriedasword;onherright,adaggerwithahugerubysetinitspommel.
“Lostyourvoices?”
“He’sawitcher,”mumbledNohorn.
“Sowhat?”
“Hewantedtotalktoyou.”
“Sowhat?”
“He’sasorcerer!”Fifteenroared.
“Wedon’tlikesorcerers,”snarledTavik.
“Take it easy, boys,” said the girl. “He wants to talk to me; that’s no
crime.Youcarryonhavingagoodtime.Andnotrouble.Tomorrow’smarket
day. Surely you don’t want your pranks to disrupt the market, such an
importanteventinthelifeofthispleasanttown?”
A quiet, nasty giggle reverberated in the silence which fell. Civril, still
sprawledoutcarelesslyonthebench,waslaughing.
“Comeon,Renfri,”chuckledthehalf-blood.“Important…event!”
“Shutup,Civril.Immediately.”
Civrilstoppedlaughing.Immediately.Geraltwasn’tsurprised.Therewas
somethingverystrangeinRenfri’svoice—somethingassociatedwiththered
reflection of fire on blades, the wailing of people being murdered, the
whinnying of horses and the smell of blood. Others must also have had
similarassociations—evenTavik’sweather-beatenfacegrewpale.
“Well, white-hair,” Renfri broke the silence. “Let’s go into the larger
room.Let’sjointhealdermanyoucamewith.Hewantstotalktometoo,no
doubt.”
Atthesightofthem,Caldemeyn,whowaswaitingatthecounter,broke
offhisquietconversationwiththeinnkeeper,straightenedhimselfandfolded
hisarmsacrosshischest.
“Listen, young lady,” he said severely, not wasting time with banal
niceties,“IknowfromthiswitcherofRiviaherewhatbringsyoutoBlaviken.
Apparentlyyoubearagrudgeagainstourwizard.”
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“Maybe.Whatofit?”askedRenfriquietly,inanequallybrusquetone.
“Onlythattherearetribunalstodealwithgrudgeslikethat.Hewhowants
to revenge a grudge using steel—here in Arcsea—is considered a common
bandit.Andalso,thateitheryougetoutofBlavikenearlyinthemorningwith
yourblackcompanions,orIthrowyouintoprison,pre—Howdoyousayit,
Geralt?”
“Preventively.”
“Exactly.Understood,younglady?”
Renfri reached into the purse on her belt and pulled out a parchment
whichhadbeenfoldedseveraltimes.
“Readthis,Alderman.Ifyou’reliterate.Anddon’tcallme‘younglady.’”
Caldemeyntooktheparchment,spentalongtimereadingit,then,without
aword,gaveittoGeralt.
“ ‘To my regents, vassals and freemen subjects,’ ” the witcher read out
loud. “ ‘To all and sundry. I proclaim that Renfri, the Princess of Creyden,
remainsinourserviceandiswellseenbyus;whosoeverdaresmaltreether
willincurourwrath.Audoen,King—’Maltreatisnotspelledlikethat.Butthe
sealappearsauthentic.”
“Becauseitisauthentic,”saidRenfri,snatchingtheparchmentfromhim.
“ItwasaffixedbyAudoen,yourmercifullord.That’swhyIdon’tadviseyou
to maltreat me. Irrespective of how you spell it, the consequences for you
wouldbelamentable. You are not,honorableAlderman,going to putmein
prison. Or call me ‘young lady.’ I haven’t infringed any law. For the time
being.”
“Ifyouinfringebyevenaninch”—Caldemeynlookedasifhewantedto
spit—“I’llthrowyouinthedungeontogetherwiththispieceofpaper.Iswear
onallthegods,younglady.Comeon,Geralt.”
“With you, witcher.” Renfri touched Geralt’s shoulder. “I’d still like a
word.”
“Don’t be late for supper,” the alderman threw over his shoulder, “or
Libushewillbefurious.”
“Iwon’t.”
Geraltleanedagainstthecounter.Fiddlingwiththewolfsheadmedallion
hangingaroundhisneck,helookedintothegirl’sblue-greeneyes.
“I’veheardaboutyou,”shesaid.“You’reGeralt,thewhite-hairedwitcher
fromRivia.IsStregoboryourfriend?”
“No.”
“Thatmakesthingseasier.”
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“Notmuch.Don’texpectmetolookonpeacefully.”
Renfri’seyesnarrowed.
“Stregobor dies tomorrow,” she said quietly, brushing the unevenly cut
hairoffherforehead.“Itwouldbethelesserevilifhediedalone.”
“Ifhedid,yes.Butinfact,beforeStregobordies,severalotherpeoplewill
dietoo.Idon’tseeanyotherpossibility.”
“Several,witcher,isputtingitmildly.”
“Youneedmorethanwordstofrightenme,Shrike.”
“Don’tcallmeShrike.Idon’tlikeit.Thepointis,Iseeotherpossibilities.
Itwouldbeworthtalkingitover…butLibusheiswaiting.Isshepretty,this
Libushe?”
“Isthatallyouhadtosaytome?”
“No.Butyoushouldgo.Libushe’swaiting.”
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IV
There was someone in his little attic room. Geralt knew it before he even
reached the door, sensing it through the barely perceptible vibration of his
medallion.Heblewouttheoillampwhichhadlithispathupthestairs,pulled
thedaggerfromhisboot,slippeditintothebackofhisbeltandpressedthe
doorhandle.Theroomwasdark.Butnotforawitcher.
He was deliberately slow in crossing the threshold; he closed the door
behind him carefully. The nextsecond he dived at theperson sitting on his
bed, crushed them into the linen, forced his forearm under their chin and
reachedforhisdagger.Hedidn’tpullitout.Somethingwasn’tright.
“Notabadstart,”shesaidinamuffledvoice,lyingmotionlessbeneath
him.“Iexpectedsomethinglikethis,butIdidn’tthinkwe’dbothbeinbedso
quickly.Takeyourhandfrommythroatplease.”
“It’syou.”
“It’sme.Nowtherearetwopossibilities.Thefirst:yougetoffmeandwe
talk.Thesecond:westayinthisposition,inwhichcaseI’dliketotakemy
bootsoffatleast.”
Thewitcherreleasedthegirl,whosighed,satupandadjustedherhairand
skirt.
“Lightthecandle,”shesaid.“Ican’tseeinthedark,unlikeyou,andIlike
toseewhoI’mtalkingto.”
Sheapproachedthetable—tall,slim,agile—andsatdown,stretchingout
herlonglegsintheirhighboots.Shewasn’tcarryinganyvisibleweapons.
“Haveyougotanythingtodrinkhere?”
“No.”
“Then it’s a good thing I brought something,” she laughed, placing a
travelingwineskinandtwoleathertumblersonthetable.
“It’snearlymidnight,”saidGeraltcoldly.“Shallwecometothepoint?”
“Inaminute.Here,haveadrink.Here’stoyou,Geralt.”
“Likewise,Shrike.”
“Myname’sRenfri,dammit.”Sheraisedherhead.“Iwillpermityouto
omitmyroyaltitle,butstopcallingmeShrike!”
“Bequietoryou’llwakethewholehouse.AmIfinallygoingtolearnwhy
youcreptinherethroughthewindow?”
“You’re slow-witted, witcher. I want to save Blaviken from slaughter. I
crawledovertherooftopslikeashe-catinMarchinordertotalktoyouabout
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it.Appreciateit.”
“Ido,”saidGeralt.“ExceptthatIdon’tknowwhattalkcanachieve.The
situation’sclear.Stregoborisinhistower,andyou’dhavetolaysiegetoitin
ordertogettohim.Ifyoudothat,yourletterofsafeconductwon’thelpyou.
Audoenwon’tdefendyouifyouopenlybreakthelaw.Thealderman,guards,
thewholeofBlavikenwillstandagainstyou.”
“ThewholeofBlavikenwouldregretstandinguptome.”Renfrismiled,
revealing a predators white teeth. “Did you take a look at my boys? They
knowtheirtrade,Iassureyou.Canyouimaginewhatwouldhappeninafight
between them and those dimwit guards who keep tripping over their own
halberds?”
“DoyouimagineIwouldstandbyandwatchafightlikethat?I’mstaying
at the alderman’s, as you can see. If the need arises, I should stand at his
side.”
“I have no doubt”—Renfri grew serious—“that you will. But you’ll
probably be alone, as the rest will cower in the cellars. No warrior in the
world could match seven swordsmen. So, white-hair, let’s stop threatening
eachother.AsIsaid:slaughterandbloodshedcanbeavoided.Therearetwo
peoplewhocanpreventit.”
“I’mallears.”
“One,”saidRenfri,“isStregoborhimself.Heleaveshistowervoluntarily,
Itakehimtoadesertedspot,andBlavikensinksbackintoblissfulapathyand
forgetsthewholeaffair.”
“Stregobormayseemcrazy,buthe’snotthatcrazy.”
“Whoknows,witcher,whoknows.Someargumentscan’tbedenied,like
theTridamultimatum.Iplantopresentittothesorcerer.”
“Whatisit,thisultimatum?”
“That’smysweetsecret.”
“Asyouwish.ButIdoubtit’llbeeffective.Stregoborsteethchatterwhen
he speaks of you. An ultimatum which would persuade him to voluntarily
surrenderhimselfintoyourbeautifulhandswouldhavetobeprettygood.So
who’stheotherperson?Letmeguess.”
“Iwonderhowsharpyouare,white-hair.”
“It’syou,Renfri.You’llrevealatrulyprincely—whatamIsaying,royal
magnanimityandrenounceyourrevenge.HaveIguessed?”
Renfri threw back her head and laughed, covering her mouth with her
hand.Thenshegrewsilentandfixedhershiningeyesonthewitcher.
“Geralt,”shesaid,“Iusedtobeaprincess.IhadeverythingIcoulddream
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of.Servantsatmybeckandcall,dresses,shoes.Cambricknickers.Jewelsand
trinkets,ponies,goldfishinapond.Dolls,andadoll’shousebiggerthanthis
room. That was my life until Stregobor and that whore Aridea ordered a
huntsman to butcher me in the forest and bring back my heart and liver.
Lovely,don’tyouthink?”
“No.I’mpleasedyouevadedthehuntsman,Renfri.”
“LikeshitIdid.Hetookpityonmeandletmego.Afterthesonofabitch
rapedmeandrobbedme.”
Geralt, fiddling with his medallion, looked her straight in the eyes. She
didn’tlowerhers.
“Thatwastheendoftheprincess,”shecontinued.“Thedressgrewtorn,
thecambricgrewgrubby.Andthentherewasdirt,hunger,stench,stinkand
abuse.Selling myselftoanyoldbum forabowlofsoup oraroof overmy
head.Doyouknowwhatmyhairwaslike?Silk.Anditreachedagoodfoot
belowmyhips.Ihaditcutrighttothescalpwithsheep-shearswhenIcaught
lice.It’snevergrownbackproperly.”
She was silent for a moment, idly brushing the uneven strands of hair
fromherforehead.
“Istoleratherthanstarvetodeath.Ikilledtoavoidbeingkilledmyself.I
waslockedinprisonswhichstankofurine,neverknowingiftheywouldhang
me in the morning, or just flog me and release me. And through it all, my
stepmotherandyoursorcererwerehardonmyheels,withtheirpoisonsand
assassinsandspells.Andyouwantmetorevealmymagnanimity?Toforgive
himroyally?I’lltearhisheadoff,royally,first.”
“ArideaandStregobortriedtopoisonyou?”
“Withanappleseasonedwithnightshade.Iwassavedbyagnome,andan
emeticIthoughtwouldturnmyinsidesout.ButIsurvived.”
“Wasthatoneofthesevengnomes?”Renfri,pouringwine,frozeholding
thewineskinoverthetumbler.
“Ah,” she said. “You do know a lot about me. Yes? Do you have
somethingagainstgnomes?Orhumanoids?Theywerebettertomethanmost
people,notthatit’syourbusiness.
“StregoborandArideahuntedmelikeawildanimalaslongastheycould.
UntilIbecamethehunter.Arideadiedinherownbed.ShewasluckyIdidn’t
gettoherearlier—Ihadaspecialplanforher,andnowI’vegotoneforthe
sorcerer.Doyouthinkhedeservestodie?”
“I’mnojudge.I’mawitcher.”
“Youare.Isaidthatthereweretwopeoplewhocouldpreventbloodshed
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inBlaviken.Thesecondisyou.Thesorcererwillletyouintothetower.You
couldkillhim.”
“Renfri,”saidGeraltcalmly,“didyoufallfromtheroofontoyourheadon
thewaytomyroom?”
“Areyouawitcheroraren’tyou,dammit?Theysayyoukilledakikimora
andbroughtithereonadonkeytogetapriceforit.Stregoborisworsethan
the kikimora. It’s just a mindless beast which kills because that’s how the
gods made it. Stregobor is a brute, a true monster. Bring him to me on a
donkeyandIwon’tbegrudgeyouanysumyoucaretomention.”
“I’mnotahiredthug,Shrike.”
“You’renot,”sheagreedwithasmile.Sheleanedbackonthestooland
crossedher legs on the table without the slightest effort to cover herthighs
withherskirt.“You’reawitcher,adefenderofpeoplefromevil.Andevilis
the steel and fire which will cause devastation here if we fight each other.
Don’tyouthinkI’mproposingalesserevil,abettersolution?Evenforthat
sonofabitchStregobor.Youcankillhimmercifully,withonethrust.He’ll
diewithoutknowingit.AndIguaranteehimquitethereverse.”
Geraltremainedsilent.
Renfristretched,raisingherarms.
“Iunderstandyourhesitation,”shesaid.“ButIneedananswernow.”
“DoyouknowwhyStregoborandtheking’swifewantedtokillyou?”
Renfristraightenedabruptlyandtookherlegsoffthetable.
“It’s obvious,” she snarled. “I am heir to the throne. Aridea’s children
werebornoutofwedlockanddon’thaveanyrightto—”
“No.”
Renfriloweredherhead,butonlyforamoment.Hereyesflashed.“Fine.
I’m supposed to be cursed. Contaminated in my mothers womb. I’m
supposedtobe…”
“Yes?”
“Amonster.”
“Andareyou?”
Forafleetingmomentshelookedhelpless,shattered.Andverysad.
“I don’t know, Geralt,” she whispered, and then her features hardened
again.“BecausehowamItoknow,dammit?WhenIcutmyfinger,Ibleed.I
bleedeverymonth,too.IgetbellyachewhenIovereat,andahangoverwhen
Igetdrunk.WhenI’mhappyIsingandIswearwhenI’msad.WhenIhate
someoneIkillthemandwhen—Butenoughofthis!Youranswer,witcher.”
“Myanswerisno.”
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“YourememberwhatIsaid?”sheaskedafteramoment’ssilence.“There
areoffersyoucan’trefuse,theconsequencesaresoterrible,andthisisoneof
them.Thinkitover.”
“Ihavethoughtcarefully.Andmysuggestionwasasserious.”
Renfri was silent for some time, fiddling with a string of pearls wound
three times around her shapely neck before falling teasingly between her
breasts,theircurvesjustvisiblethroughtheslitofherjacket.
“Geralt,”shesaid,“didStregoboraskyoutokillme?”
“Yes.Hebelieveditwasthelesserevil.”
“CanIbelieveyourefusedhim,asyouhaveme?”
“Youcan.”
“Why?”
“BecauseIdon’tbelieveinalesserevil.”
Renfrismiledfaintly,anuglygrimaceintheyellowcandlelight.
“Youdon’tbelieveinit,yousay.Wellyou’reright,inaway.OnlyEvil
andGreaterEvilexistandbeyondthem,intheshadows,lurksTrueEvil.True
Evil,Geralt,issomethingyoucanbarelyimagine,evenifyoubelievenothing
canstillsurpriseyou.AndsometimesTrueEvilseizesyoubythethroatand
demandsthatyouchoosebetweenitandanother,slightlylesser,Evil.”
“What’syourgoalhere,Renfri?”
“Nothing.I’vehadabittodrinkandI’mphilosophising.I’mlookingfor
general truths. And I’ve found one: lesser evils exist, but we can’t choose
them. Only True Evil can force us to such a choice. Whether we like it or
not.”
“MaybeI’venothadenoughtodrink.”Thewitchersmiledsourly.“And
in the meantime midnight’s passed, the way it does. Let’s speak plainly.
You’renotgoingto killStregoborinBlaviken becauseI’mnotgoing to let
you.I’mnotgoingtoletitcometoaslaughterhere.So,forthesecondtime,
renounceyourrevenge.Provetohim,toeveryone,thatyou’renotaninhuman
and bloodthirsty monster. Prove he has done you great harm through his
mistake.”
For a moment Renfri watched the witchers medallion spinning as he
twistedthechain.
“And if I tell you, witcher, that I can neither forgive Stregobor nor
renouncemyrevengethenIadmitthatheisright,is thatit?I’dbeproving
thatIamamonstercursedbythegods?Youknow,whenIwasstillnewto
thislife,afreemantookmein.Hetookafancytome,eventhoughIfound
himrepellent.Soeverytimehewantedtofuckme,hehadtobeatmesohard
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Icouldbarelymove,eventhefollowingday.OnemorningIrosewhileitwas
stilldarkandslashedhisthroatwithascythe.Iwasn’tyetasskilledasIam
now,andaknifeseemedtoosmall.AndasIlistenedtohimgurgleandchoke,
watched him kicking and flailing, I felt the marks left by his feet and fists
fade, and I felt, oh, so great, so great that…I left him, whistling, sprightly,
feelingsojoyful,sohappy.Andit’sthesameeachtime.Ifitwasn’t,who’d
wastetimeonrevenge?”
“Renfri,”saidGeralt.“Whateveryourmotives,you’renotgoingtoleave
herejoyfulandhappy.Butyou’llleaveherealive,earlytomorrowmorning,
asthealdermanordered.You’renotgoingtokillStregoborinBlaviken.”
Renfri’seyesglistenedinthecandlelight,reflectingtheflame;thepearls
glowed in the slit of her jacket; the wolf medallion spinning round on its
chainsparkled.
“Ipityyou,”shesaidslowly,gazingatthemedallion.“Youclaimalesser
evildoesn’texist. You’re standing onaflagstonerunningwith blood, alone
and so very lonely because you can’t choose, but you had to. And you’ll
neverknow,you’llneverbesure,ifyouwereright…Andyourrewardwillbe
astoning,andabadword.Ipityyou…”
“Andyou?”askedthewitcherquietly,almostinawhisper.
“Ican’tchoose,either.”
“Whatareyou?”
“IamwhatIam.”
“Whereareyou?”
“I’m…cold…”
“Renfri!”Geraltsqueezedthemedalliontightlyinhishand.
Shetossedherheadasifwakingup,andblinkedseveraltimes,surprised.
Foraverybriefmomentshelookedfrightened.
“You’ve won,”she said sharply. “You win, witcher. Tomorrow morning
I’llleaveBlavikenandneverreturntothisrottentown.Never.Nowpassme
thewineskin.”
Herusualderisivesmilereturnedassheputheremptytumbler back on
thetable.“Geralt?”
“I’mhere.”
“Thatbloodyroofissteep.I’dprefertoleaveatdawnthanfallandhurt
myself in thedark. I’m aprincess and my body’s delicate. I can feel a pea
underamattress—aslongasit’snotwell-stuffedwithstraw,obviously.How
aboutit?”
“Renfri”—Geralt smiled despite himself—“is that really befitting of a
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princess?”
“Whatdoyouknowaboutprincesses,dammit?I’velivedasoneandthe
joyofitisbeingabletodowhatyoulike.DoIhavetotellyoustraightout
whatIwant?”
Geralt,stillsmiling,didn’treply.
“Ican’tbelieveyoudon’tfindmeattractive.”Renfrigrimaced.“Areyou
afraid you’ll meet the freeman’s sticky fate? Eh, white-hair, I haven’t got
anythingsharponme.Havealookforyourself.”
Sheputherlegsonhisknees.“Pullmybootsoff.Ahighbootisthebest
placetohideaknife.”
Barefoot, she got up, tore at the buckle of her belt. “I’m not hiding
anythinghere,either.Orhere,asyoucansee.Putthatbloodycandleout.”
Outside,inthedarkness,acatyawled.
“Renfri?”
“What?”
“Isthiscambric?”
“Ofcourseitis,dammit.AmIaprincessornot?”
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V
“Daddy,”Marilkanaggedmonotonously,“whenarewegoingtothemarket?
Tothemarket,Daddy!”
“Quiet, Marilka,” grunted Caldemeyn, wiping his plate with his bread.
“Sowhatwereyousaying,Geralt?They’releaving?”
“Yes.”
“Inever thought it would end so peacefully. Theyhad me bythe throat
withthatletterfromAudoen.Iputonabravefacebut,totellyouthetruth,I
couldn’tdoathingtothem.”
“Eveniftheyopenlybrokethelaw?Startedafight?”
“Evenif theydid.Audoen’sa verytouchyking. Hesendspeople tothe
scaffold on a whim. I’ve got a wife, a daughter, and I’m happy with my
office.Idon’thavetoworrywherethebaconwillcomefromtomorrow.It’s
goodnewsthatthey’releaving.Buthow,andwhy,didithappen?”
“Daddy,Iwanttogotothemarket!”
“Libushe! Take Marilka away! Geralt, I asked Centurion, the Golden
Court’s innkeeper, about that Novigradian company. They’re quite a gang.
Someofthemwererecognized.”
“Yes?”
“TheonewiththegashacrosshisfaceisNohorn,Abergard’soldadjutant
fromtheso-calledFreeAngrenCompany—you’llhave heardof them.That
hulk they callFifteen was one of theirstoo and Idon’tthink his nickname
comes from fifteen good deeds. The half-elf is Civril, a brigand and
professionalmurderer.Apparently,hehadsomethingtodowiththemassacre
atTridam.”
“Where?”
“Tridam.Didn’tyouhearofit?Everyonewastalkingaboutitthree…Yes,
three years ago. The Baron of Tridam was holding some brigands in the
dungeons.Theircomrades—oneofwhomwasthathalf-bloodCivril—seized
a river ferry full of pilgrims during the Feast of Nis. They demanded the
baron set those others free. The baron refused, so they began murdering
pilgrims, one after another. By the time the baron released his prisoners
they’d thrown a dozen pilgrims overboard to drift with the current—and
followingthedeathsthebaronwasindangerofexile,orevenofexecution.
Some blamed him for waiting so long to give in, and others claimed he’d
committed a great evil in releasing the men, in setting a pre—precedent or
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something.Thegangshouldhavebeenshotfromthebanks,togetherwiththe
hostages, or attacked on the boats; he shouldn’t have given an inch. At the
tribunalthe baronarguedhe’dhadnochoice,he’dchosen thelesserevil to
savemorethantwenty-fivepeople—womenandchildren—ontheferry.”
“TheTridamultimatum,”whisperedthewitcher.“Renfri—”
“What?”
“Caldemeyn,themarketplace.”
“What?”
“She’s deceived us. They’re not leaving. They’ll force Stregobor out of
histowerastheyforcedtheBaronofTridam’shand.Orthey’llforcemeto…
They’regoingtostartmurderingpeopleatthemarket;it’sarealtrap!”
“Byallthegods—Whereareyougoing?Sitdown!”
Marilka,terrifiedbytheshouting,huddled,keening,inthecornerofthe
kitchen.
“I told you!” Libushe shouted, pointing to the witcher. “I said he only
bringstrouble!”
“Silence,woman!Geralt?Sitdown!”
“Wehavetostopthem.Rightnow,beforepeoplegotothemarket.And
calltheguards.Asthegangleavestheinn,seizethemandholdthem.”
“Bereasonable.Wecan’t.Wecan’ttouchahairoftheirheadsifthey’ve
done nothing wrong. They’ll defend themselves and there’ll be bloodshed.
They’reprofessionals;they’llslaughtermypeople,andit’llbemyheadforit
ifwordgetstoAudoen.I’llgathertheguards,gotothemarketandkeepan
eyeonthemthere—”
“Thatwon’tachieveanything, Caldemeyn. If the crowd’salreadyinthe
square,youcan’tpreventpanicandslaughter.Renfrihastobestoppedright
now,whilethemarketplaceisempty.”
“It’sillegal.Ican’tpermitit.It’sonlyarumorthehalf-elfwasatTridam.
Youcouldbewrong,andAudoenwouldflaymealive.”
“Wehavetotakethelesserevil!”
“Geralt,Iforbidit!AsAlderman,Iforbidit!Leaveyoursword!Stop!”
Marilkawasscreaming,herhandspressedoverhermouth.
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VI
Shadinghiseyeswithhishand,Civrilwatchedthesunemergefrombehind
thetrees.Themarketplacewascomingtolife.Wagonsandcartsrumbledpast
andthefirstvendorswerealreadyfillingtheirstalls.Ahammerwasbanging,
acockcrowingandseagullsscreechedloudlyoverhead.
“Lookslikealovelyday,”Fifteensaidpensively.
Civrillookedathimaskancebutdidn’tsayanything.
“Thehorsesallright,Tavik?”askedNohorn,pullingonhisgloves.
“Saddled and ready. But, there’s still not many of them in the
marketplace.”
“There’llbemore.”
“Weshouldeat.”
“Later.”
“Deadright.You’llhavetimelater.Andanappetite.”
“Look,”saidFifteensuddenly.
The witcher was approaching from the main street, walking between
stalls,comingstraighttowardthem.
“Renfri was right,” Civril said. “Give me the crossbow, Nohorn.” He
hunched over and, holding the strap down with his foot, pulled the string
back.Heplacedtheboltcarefullyinthegrooveasthewitchercontinuedto
approach.Civrilraisedthecrossbow.
“Notonestepcloser,witcher!”
Geraltstoppedaboutfortypacesfromthegroup.
“Where’sRenfri?”
The half-blood’s pretty face contorted. “At the tower. She’s making the
sorcereranofferhe can’trefuse.Butsheknew you wouldcome.Sheleft a
messageforyou.”
“Speak.”
“I am what I am. Choose. Either me, or a lesser.’ You’re supposed to
knowwhatitmeans.”
The witcher nodded, raised hishand abovehisright shoulder, and drew
hissword.Thebladetracedaglisteningarcabovehishead.Walkingslowly,
hemadehiswaytowardthegroup.
Civrillaughednastily,ominously.
“Renfrisaidthiswouldhappen,witcher,andleftussomethingspecialto
giveyou.Rightbetweentheeyes.”
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The witcher kept walking, and the half-elf raised the crossbow to his
cheek.Itgrewveryquiet.
The bowstring hummed, the witchers sword flashed and the bolt flew
upwardwithametallicwhine,spinningintheairuntilitclatteredagainstthe
roofandrumbledintothegutter.
“Hedeflectedit…”groanedFifteen.“Deflecteditinflight—”
“Asone,”orderedCivril.Bladeshissedastheyweredrawnfromsheaths,
thegrouppressedshouldertoshoulder,bristlingwithblades.
Thewitchercameonfaster;hisfluidwalkbecamearun—notstraightat
thegroupquiveringwithswords,butcirclingitinatighteningspiral.
AsGeraltcircledthegroup,Tavik’snervefailed.Herushedthewitcher,
thetwinsfollowinghim.
“Don’tdisperse!”Civrilroared,shakinghisheadandlosing sightofthe
witcher. He swore and jumped aside, seeing the group fall apart, scattering
aroundthemarketstalls.
Tavikwentfirst.HewaschasingthewitcherwhenhesawGeraltrunning
in the opposite direction, toward him. He skidded, trying to stop, but the
witchershotpastbeforehecouldraisehissword.Tavikfeltahardblowjust
abovehiship,felltohiskneesand,whenhesawhiship,startedscreaming.
The twins simultaneously attacked the black, blurred shape rushing
toward them, mistimed their attack and collided with each other as Geralt
slashed Vyr across the chest and Nimir in the temple, leaving one twin to
stagger,headdown,intoavegetablestall,andtheothertospininplaceand
falllimplyintothegutter.
Themarketplaceboiledwithvendorsrunningaway,stallsclatteringtothe
ground and screams rising in the dusty air. Tavik tried to stumble to his
tremblinglegsandfellpainfullytotheground.
“From the left, Fifteen!” Nohorn roared, running in a semi-circle to
approachthewitcherfrombehind.
Fifteen spun. But not quickly enough. He bore a thrust through the
stomach,preparedtostrikeandwasstruckagainintheneck,justbelowhis
ear.Hetookfourunsteadystepsandcollapsedintoafishcart,whichrolled
away beneath him. Sliding over the slippery cargo, Fifteen fell onto the
flagstones,silverwithscales.
Civril and Nohorn struck simultaneouslyfrom bothsides, theelfwith a
high sweeping cut, Nohorn from a kneeling position, low and flat. The
witchercaughtboth,twometallicclangsmergingintoone.Civrilleaptaside
andtripped,catchinghimselfagainstastallasNohornwardedoffablowso
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powerful it threw him backward to his knees. Leaping up, he parried too
slowly,takingagashinthefaceparalleltohisoldscar.
Civrilbouncedoffthe stall, jumpingoverNohornas he fell,missedthe
witcherandjumpedaway.Thethrustwassosharp,soprecise,hedidn’tfeel
it;hislegsonlygavewaywhenhetriedtoattackagain.Theswordfellfrom
his hand, the tendons severed above the elbow. Civril fell to his knees and
shookhishead,tryingandfailingtorise.Hisheaddropped,andamongthe
shattered stalls and market wares, thescatteredfish and cabbages, his body
stilledinthecenterofagrowingredpuddle.
Renfrienteredthemarketplace.
She approached slowly with a soft, feline step, avoiding the carts and
stalls.Thecrowdinthestreetsandbythehouses,whichhadbeenhumming
like a hornet’s nest, grew silent. Geralt stood motionless, his sword in his
loweredhand.Renfricametowithintenpacesandstopped,closeenoughto
seethat,underherjacket,sheworeashortcoatofchainmail,barelycovering
herhips.
“You’vemadeyourchoice,”shesaidslowly.“Areyousureit’stheright
one?”
“Thiswon’tbeanotherTridam,”Geraltsaidwithaneffort.
“It wouldn’t have been. Stregobor laughed in my face. He said I could
butcher Blaviken and the neighboring villages and he wouldn’t leave his
tower.Andhewon’tletanyonein,notevenyou.Whyareyoulookingatme
likethat?Yes, I deceived you. I’ll deceive anyone if I have to; whyshould
youbespecial?”
“Getoutofhere,Renfri.”
Shelaughed.“No,Geralt.”Shedrewhersword,quicklyandnimbly.
“Renfri.”
“No.Youmadeachoice.Nowit’s my turn.”With onesharpmove,she
tore the skirt from her hips and spun it in the air, wrapping the material
aroundherforearm.Geraltretreatedandraisedhishand,arranginghisfingers
intheSign.
Renfrilaughedhoarsely.“Itdoesn’taffectme.Onlytheswordwill.”
“Renfri,”herepeated.“Go.Ifwecrossblades,I—Iwon’tbeable—”
“Iknow,” she said. “But I,Ican’tdoanythingelse. I just can’t.We are
whatweare,youandI.”
Shemovedtowardhimwithalight,swayingstep,herswordglintingin
herrighthand,herskirtdraggingalongthegroundfromherleft.
Sheleapt,theskirtflutteredintheairand,veiledinitstracks,thesword
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flashed in a short, sparing cut. Geralt jumped away; the cloth didn’t even
brush him, and Renfri’s blade slid over his diagonal parry. He attacked
instinctively,spinningtheirblades,tryingtoknockherweaponaside.Itwasa
mistake.Shedeflectedhisbladeandslashed,aimingforhisface.Hebarely
parried and pirouetted away, dodging her dancing blade and jumping aside
again.Shefellon him, threw the skirt intohiseyesandslashedflatlyfrom
shortrange,spinning.Spinningwithher,heavoidedtheblow.Sheknewthe
trickandturnedwithhim,theirbodiessoclosehecouldfeelthetouchofher
breathassherantheedgeacrosshischest.Hefeltatwingeofpain,ignoredit.
Heturnedagain,intheoppositedirection,deflectedthebladeflyingtoward
histemple,madeaswiftfeintandattacked.Renfrisprangawayasiftostrike
fromaboveasGeraltlungedandswiftlyslashedherexposedthighandgroin
frombelowwiththeverytipofhissword.
Shedidn’tcryout.Fallingtoherside,shedroppedherswordandclutched
her thigh. Blood poured through her fingers in a bright stream over her
decoratedbelt,elk-leatherboots,andontothedirtyflagstones.Theclamorof
theswayingcrowd,crammedinthestreets,grewastheysawblood.
Geraltputuphissword.
“Don’tgo…”shemoaned,curlingupinaball.
Hedidn’treply.
“I’m…cold…”
He said nothing. Renfri moaned again, curling up tighter as her blood
flowedintothecracksbetweenthestones.
“Geralt…Holdme…”
Thewitcherremainedsilent.
Sheturnedherhead,restinghercheekontheflagstonesandwasstill.A
fine dagger, hidden beneath her body until now, slipped from her numb
fingers.
After a long moment, the witcher raised his head, hearing Stregobors
staff tapping against the flagstones. The wizard was approaching quickly,
avoidingthecorpses.
“Whatslaughter,”he panted. “Isawit, Geralt. Isawitall inmycrystal
ball…”
He came closer, bent over. In his trailing black robe, supported by his
staff,helookedold.
“It’sincredible.”Heshookhishead.“Shrike’sdead.”
Geraltdidn’treply.
“Well,Geralt.”Thewizardstraightened himself.“Fetcha cartandwe’ll
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takehertothetowerforanautopsy.”
He looked at the witcher and, not getting any answer, leaned over the
body.
Someonethewitcherdidn’tknowfoundthehiltofhisswordanddrewit.
“Touch asingle hair ofher head,” saidthe person thewitcher didn’tknow,
“touchherheadandyourswillgoflyingtotheflagstones.”
“Haveyougonemad?You’rewounded,inshock!Anautopsy’stheonly
waywecanconfirm—”
“Don’ttouchher!”
Stregobor,seeingtheraisedblade,jumpedasideandwavedhisstaff.“All
right!” he shouted. “As you wish! But you’ll never know! You’ll never be
sure!Never,doyouhear,witcher?”
“Begone.”
“Asyouwish.”Thewizard turned away, his staffhitting the flagstones.
“I’mreturningtoKovir.I’mnotstayinginthisholeanotherday.Comewith
meratherthanrothere.Thesepeopledon’tknowanything,they’veonlyseen
youkilling.Andyoukillnastily,Geralt.Well,areyoucoming?”
Geralt didn’t reply; he wasn’t looking at him. He put his sword away.
Stregoborshruggedandwalkedaway, his stafftappingrhythmically against
theground.
Astonecameflyingfromthecrowdandclatteredagainsttheflagstones.A
second followed, whizzing past just above Geralt’s shoulder. The witcher,
holding himself straight, raised both hands and made a swift gesture with
them.Thecrowd heaved; thestonescameflying more thicklybuttheSign,
protectinghimbehindaninvisibleovalshield,pushedthemaside.
“Enough!”yelledCaldemeyn.“Bloodyhell,enoughofthat!”
Thecrowdroaredlikeasurgeofbreakersbutthestonesstoppedflying.
Thewitcherstood,motionless.
Thealdermanapproachedhim.
“Is this,” he said, with a broad gesture indicating the motionless bodies
strewn across the square, “how your lesser evil looks? Is this what you
believednecessary?”
“Yes,”repliedGeraltslowly,withaneffort.
“Isyourwoundserious?”
“No.”
“Inthatcase,getoutofhere.”
“Yes,” said the witcher. He stood a moment longer, avoiding the
alderman’seyes.Thenheturnedawayslowly,veryslowly.
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“Geralt.”
Thewitcherlookedround.
“Don’tcomeback,”saidCaldemeyn.“Nevercomeback.”
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THEVOICEOFREASON
114
I
“Let’stalk,Iola.
“I need this conversation. They say silence is golden. Maybe it is,
althoughI’mnotsureit’sworththatmuch.Ithasitspricecertainly;youhave
topayforit.
“It’seasierforyou.Yesitis,don’tdenyit.You’resilentthroughchoice;
you’vemadeitasacrificetoyourgoddess.Idon’tbelieveinMelitele,don’t
believeintheexistenceofothergodseither,butIrespectyourchoice,your
sacrifice. Your belief. Because your faith and sacrifice, the price you’re
payingforyoursilence,willmakeyouabetter,agreaterbeing.Or,atleast,it
could.Butmyfaithlessnesscandonothing.It’spowerless.
“YouaskwhatIbelievein,inthatcase.
“Ibelieveinthesword.
“Asyoucansee,Icarrytwo.Everywitcherdoes.It’ssaid,spitefully,the
silveroneisformonstersandtheironforhumans.Butthat’swrong.Asthere
aremonsterswhichcanbestruckdownonlywithasilverblade,sothereare
thoseforwhomironislethal.And,Iola,notjustanyiron,itmustcomefrom
ameteorite.Whatisameteorite,youask?It’safallingstar.Youmusthave
seen them—short, luminous streaks in the night. You’ve probably made a
wishonone.Perhapsitwasonemorereasonforyoutobelieveinthegods.
Forme,ameteoriteisnothingmorethanabitofmetal,primedbythesunand
itsfall,metaltomakeswords.
“Yes, of course you can take my sword. Feel how light it—No! Don’t
touchtheedge;you’llcutyourself.It’ssharperthanarazor.Ithastobe.
“Itrainineverysparemoment.Idon’tdarelosemyskill.I’vecomehere
—thisfurthestcornerofthetemplegarden—tolimberup,toridmymuscles
ofthathideous,loathsomenumbnesswhichhascomeoverme,thiscoldness
flowing through me. And you found me here. Funny, for a few days I was
tryingtofindyou.Iwanted—
“Ineedtotalk,Iola.Let’ssitdownforamoment.
“Youdon’tknowmeatall,doyou?
“I’mcalledGeralt.Geraltof—No.OnlyGeralt.Geraltofnowhere.I’ma
witcher.
“MyhomeisKaerMorhen,WitchersSettlement.It’s…Itwasafortress.
Notmuchremainsofit.
“Kaer Morhen… That’s where the likes of me were produced. It’s not
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doneanymore;noonelivesinKaerMorhennow.NoonebutVesemir.Who’s
Vesemir?Myfather.Whyareyousosurprised?What’ssostrangeabout it?
Everyone’sgotafather,andmineisVesemir.Andsowhatifhe’snotmyreal
father? I didn’t know him, ormy mother. I don’t even know ifthey’re still
alive,andIdon’tmuchcare.
“Yes, Kaer Morhen. I underwent the usual mutation there, through the
TrialofGrasses,andthenhormones,herbs,viralinfections.Andthenthrough
themall again. And again, to the bitter end. Apparently, I took the changes
unusuallywell;Iwasonlyillbriefly.Iwasconsideredtobeanexceptionally
resilientbrat…andwaschosenformorecomplicatedexperimentsasaresult.
Theywereworse.Muchworse.But,asyousee,Isurvived.Theonlyoneto
liveoutofallthosechosenforfurthertrials.Myhairsbeenwhiteeversince.
Totallossofpigmentation.Asideeffect,astheysay.Atrifle.
“Then they taught me various things until the day when I left Kaer
Morhenandtooktotheroad.I’dearnedmymedallion,theSignoftheWolfs
School. I had two swords: silver and iron, and my conviction, enthusiasm,
incentiveand…faith.FaiththatIwasneededinaworldfullofmonstersand
beasts,toprotecttheinnocent.AsIleftKaerMorhen,Idreamedofmeeting
my first monster. I couldn’t wait to stand eye to eye with him. And the
momentarrived.
“My first monster, Iola, was bald and had exceptionally rotten teeth. I
came across him on the highway where, with some fellow monsters,
deserters, he’d stopped a peasant’s cart and pulled out a little girl, maybe
thirteenyearsold.Hiscompanionsheldherfatherwhilethebaldmantoreoff
herdress,yellingitwastimeforhertomeetarealman.Irodeupandsaidthe
time had come for him, too—I thought I was very witty. The bald monster
releasedthegirlandthrewhimselfatmewithanaxe.Hewasslowbuttough.
Ihithimtwice—notcleancuts,butspectacular,andonlythendidhefall.His
gangranawaywhentheysawwhatawitchersswordcoulddotoaman….
“AmIboringyou,Iola?
“Ineedthis.Ireallydoneedit.
“Where was I? My first noble deed. You see, they’d told me again and
again in Kaer Morhen not to get involved in such incidents, not to play at
beingknighterrantorupholdthelaw.Nottoshowoff,buttoworkformoney.
AndIjoinedthisfightlikeanidiot,notfiftymilesfromthemountains.And
doyouknowwhy?Iwantedthegirl,sobbingwithgratitude,tokisshersavior
onthehands,andherfathertothankmeonhisknees.Inrealityherfatherfled
withhisattackers,andthegirl,drenchedinthebaldman’sblood,threwup,
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becamehystericalandfaintedinfearwhenIapproachedher.Sincethen,I’ve
onlyveryrarelyinterferedinsuchmatters.
“Ididmyjob.Iquicklylearnedhow.I’drideuptovillageenclosuresor
townpicketsandwait.Iftheyspat,cursedandthrewstones,Irodeaway.If
someonecameouttogivemeacommission,I’dcarryitout.
“Ivisitedtownsandfortresses.Ilookedforproclamationsnailedtoposts
atthecrossroads.Ilookedforthewords‘Witcherurgentlyneeded.’Andthen
there’dbeasacredsite,adungeon,necropolisorruins,forestravineorgrotto
hiddeninthemountains,fullofbonesandstinkingcarcasses.Somecreature
whichlivedtokill,outofhunger,forpleasure,orinvokedbysomesickwill.
A manticore, wyvern, fogler, aeschna, ilyocoris, chimera, leshy, vampire,
ghoul, graveir, werewolf, giant scorpion, striga, black annis, kikimora,
vypper…somanyI’vekilled.There’dbeadanceinthedarkandaslashof
thesword,andfearanddistasteintheeyesofmyemployerafterward.
“Mistakes?Of courseI’vemade them.ButIkeeptomyprinciples.No,
notthecode.AlthoughIhaveattimeshiddenbehindacode.Peoplelikethat.
Thosewhofollowacodeareoftenrespectedandheldinhighesteem.Butno
one’s ever compiled a witchers code. I invented mine. Just like that. And
keeptoit.Always—
“Notalways.
“There have beensituations where it seemedthere wasn’tany room for
doubt.WhenIshouldsaytomyself,‘WhatdoIcare?It’snothingtodowith
me.I’mawitcher.’WhenIshouldlistentothevoiceofreason.Tolistento
myinstinct,evenifit’sfear,ifnottowhatmyexperiencedictates.
“Ishouldhavelistenedtothevoiceofreasonthattime…
“Ididn’t.
“I thought I waschoosingthe lesser evil. I chosethe lesser evil. Lesser
evil!I’mGeralt!Witcher…I’mtheButcherofBlaviken—
“Don’ttouchme!Itmight…Youmightsee…andIdon’twantyouto.I
don’twanttoknow.Iknowmyfatewhirlsaboutmelikewaterinaweir.It’s
hardonmyheels,followingmytracks,butIneverlookback.
“Aloop?Yes,that’swhatNennekesensed.Whattemptedme,Iwonder,in
Cintra?HowcouldIhavetakensucharisksofoolishly—?
“No,no,no.Ineverlookback.I’llneverreturntoCintra.I’llavoiditlike
theplague.I’llnevergobackthere.
“Heh,ifmycalculationsarecorrect,thatchildwouldhavebeenbornin
May,sometimearoundthefeastofBelleteyn.Ifthat’strue,it’saninteresting
coincidence.BecauseYenneferwasalsobornonBelleteyn’s…
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“Enoughofthis,weshouldgo.It’salreadydusk.
“Thankyoufortalkingtome.Thankyou,Iola.
“No,nothing’swrong.I’mfine.
“Quitefine.”
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AQUESTIONOFPRICE
119
I
Thewitcherhadaknifeathisthroat.
Hewaswallowinginawoodentub,brimfulofsoapsuds,hisheadthrown
backagainstitsslipperyrim.Thebittertasteofsoaplingeredinhismouthas
theknife,bluntasadoorknob,scrapedhisAdam’sapplepainfullyandmoved
towardhischinwithagratingsound.
The barber, with the expression of an artist who is conscious that he is
creating a masterpiece, scraped once more for form’s sake, then wiped the
witchersfacewithapieceoflinensoakedintinctureofangelica.
Geralt stood up, allowed a servant to pour a bucket of water over him,
shookhimselfandclimbedfromthetub,leavingwetfootmarksonthebrick
floor.
“Yourtowel,sir.”Theservantglancedcuriouslyathismedallion.
“Thanks.”
“Clothes,”saidHaxo.“Shirt,underpants,trousersandtunic.Andboots.”
“You’vethoughtofeverything.Butcan’tIgoinmyownshoes?”
“No.Beer?”
“Withpleasure.”
Hedressedslowly.Thetouchofsomeoneelse’scoarse,unpleasantclothes
againsthisswollenskinspoiledhisrelaxedmood.
“Castellan?”
“Yes,Geralt?”
“Youdon’tknowwhatthisisallabout,doyou?Whytheyneedmehere?”
“It’snotmybusiness,”saidHaxo,squintingattheservants.“Myjobisto
getyoudressed—”
“Dressedup,youmean.”
“—get you dressed and take you to the banquet, to the queen. Put the
tunicon,sir.Andhidethemedallionbeneathit.”
“Mydaggerwashere.”
“It isn’t anymore. It’s in a safe place, like your swords and your
possessions.Nobodycarriesarmswhereyou’regoing.”
Thewitchershrugged,pullingonthetightpurpletunic.
“Andwhat’sthis?”heasked,indicatingtheembroideryonthefrontofhis
outfit.
“Ohyes,”saidHaxo.“Ialmostforgot.Duringthebanquet,youwillbethe
HonorableRavixofFourhorn.Asguestofhonor,youwillsitatthequeen’s
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righthand,suchis her wish, andthat,onthetunic, is your coatofarms.A
bearpassantsable, damsel vestedazureridinghim, her hairlooseandarms
raised.Youshouldrememberit—oneoftheguestsmighthaveathingabout
heraldry.Itoftenhappens.”
“Of course I’ll remember it,” said Geralt seriously. “And Fourhorn,
where’sthat?”
“Farenough.Ready?Canwego?”
“Wecan.Justtellme,Haxo,what’sthisbanquetinaidof?”
“PrincessPavetta isturningfifteenand,asisthecustom,contendersfor
herhandhaveturnedupintheirdozens.QueenCalanthewantshertomarry
someone from Skellige; an alliance with the islanders would mean a lot to
us.”
“Whythem?”
“Thosethey’realliedwitharen’tattackedasoftenasothers.”
“Agoodreason.”
“And not the sole one. In Cintra women can’t rule. King Roegner died
some time ago and the queen doesn’t want another husband: our Lady
Calantheiswiseandjust,butakingisaking.Whoevermarriestheprincess
willsitonthethrone,andwewantatough,decentfellow.They haveto be
foundontheislands.They’reahardnation.Let’sgo.”
Geralt stopped halfway down the gallery surrounding the small inner
courtyardandlookedaround.
“Castellan,”hesaidunderhisbreath,“we’realone.Quickly,tellmewhy
thequeenneedsawitcher.Youofallpeoplemustknowsomething.”
“For the same reasons as everyone else,” Haxo grunted. “Cintra is just
likeanyothercountry.We’vegotwerewolvesandbasilisksandamanticore
couldbefound,too,ifyoulookedhardenough.Soawitchermightalsocome
inuseful.”
“Don’t twist my words, Castellan. I’m asking why the queen needs a
witcherindisguiseasabearpassant,withhairlooseatthat,atthebanquet.”
Haxoalsolookedaround,andevenleanedoverthegallerybalustrade.
“Something bad’s happening, Geralt,” he muttered. “In the castle.
Something’sfrighteningpeople.”
“What?”
“What usually frightens people? A monster. They say it’s small,
hunchbacked, bristling like a Urcheon. It creeps around the castle at night,
rattleschains.Moansandgroansinthechambers.”
“Haveyouseenit?”
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“No,”Haxospat,“andIdon’twantto.”
“You’re talking nonsense, Castellan,” grimaced the witcher. “It doesn’t
makesense.We’regoingtoanengagementfeast.WhatamIsupposedtodo
there? Wait for a hunchback to jump out and groan? Without a weapon?
Dresseduplikeajester?Haxo?”
“Thinkwhatyoulike,”grumbledthecastellan.“Theytoldmenottotell
you anything, but you asked. So I told you. And you tell me I’m talking
nonsense.Howcharming.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you, Castellan. I was simply
surprised…”
“Stopbeingsurprised.”Haxoturnedaway,stillsulking.“Yourjobisn’tto
besurprised.AndIstronglyadviseyou,witcher,thatifthequeenordersyou
to strip naked, paint your arse blue and hang yourself upside down in the
entrance hall like a chandelier, you do it without surprise or hesitation.
Otherwiseyoumight meet withafair,amountofunpleasantness. Have you
gotthat?”
“I’vegotit.Let’s go, Haxo. Whatever happens, that bath’s given me an
appetite.”
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II
Apartfromthecurt,ceremoniousgreetingswithwhichshewelcomedhimas
“LordofFourhorn,”QueenCalanthedidn’texchangeasinglewordwiththe
witcher.Thebanquetwasabouttobeginandtheguests,loudlyannounedby
theherald,weregathering.
The table was huge, rectangular, and could seat more than forty men.
Calanthesatattheheadofthetableonathronewithahighbackrest.Geralt
satonher rightand,onher left, agray-hairedbard called Drogodar,witha
lute.Twomorechairsattheheadofthetable,onthequeen’sleft,remained
empty.
To Geralt’s right, along the table, sat Haxo and a voivode whose name
he’dforgotten.BeyondthemwereguestsfromtheDuchyofAttre—thesullen
andsilentknightRainfarnandhischarge,thechubbytwelve-year-oldPrince
Windhalm,one of the pretenders to the princess’s hand. Furtherdown were
thecolorfulandmotleyknightsfromCintra,andlocalvassals.
“BaronEylembertofTigg!”announcedtheherald.
“Coodcoodak!” murmured Calanthe, nudging Drogodar. “This will be
fun.”
A thin and whiskered, richly attired knight bowed low, but his lively,
happyeyesandcheerfulsmirkbeliedhissubservience.
“Greetings, Coodcoodak,” said the queen ceremoniously. Obviously the
baronwasbetterknownbyhisnicknamethanbyhisfamilyname.“Weare
happytoseeyou.”
“AndIamhappytobeinvited,”declaredCoodcoodak,andsighed.“Oh
well,I’llcastaneyeontheprincess,ifyoupermit,myqueen.It’shardtolive
alone,ma’am.”
“Aye, Coodcoodak.” Calanthe smiled faintly, wrapping a lock of hair
aroundherfinger.“Butyou’realreadymarried,aswewellknow.”
“Aaahh.”Thebaronwasmiffed.“Youknowyourself,ma’am,howweak
anddelicatemy wifeis,andsmallpox isrifeinthe neighborhood.Ibetmy
beltandswordagainstapairofoldslippersthatinayearI’llalreadybeoutof
mourning.”
“Poor man, Coodcoodak. But lucky, too.” Calanthe’s smile grew wider.
“Luckyyourwifeisn’tstronger.Ihearthatlastharvest,whenshecaughtyou
in the haystack with a strumpet, she chased you for almost a mile with a
pitchforkbutcouldn’tcatchyou.Youhavetofeedherbetter,cuddlehermore
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andtakecarethatherbackdoesn’tgetcoldduringthenight.Then,inayear,
you’llseehowmuchbettersheis.”
Coodcoodakpretendedtogrowdoleful.“Itakeyourpoint.ButcanIstay
forthefeast?”
“We’dbedelighted,Baron.”
“ThelegationfromSkellige!”shoutedtheherald,becomingincreasingly
hoarse.
Theislanders—fourofthem,inshinyleatherdoubletstrimmedwithseal
fur and belted with checkered woolen sashes—strode in with a sprightly,
hollowstep.Theywereledbyasinewywarriorwithadarkfaceandaquiline
noseand,athisside,abroad-shoulderedyouthwithamopofredhair.They
allbowedbeforethequeen.
“Itisagreathonor,”saidCalanthe,alittleflushed,“towelcomesuchan
excellentknightasEistTuirseachofSkelligetomycastleagain.Ifitweren’t
for your well-known disdain for marriage, I’d be delighted to think you’re
heretocourtmyPavetta.Haslonelinessgotthebetterofyouafterall,sir?”
“Often enough, beautiful Calanthe,” replied the dark-faced islander,
raisinghisglisteningeyestothequeen.“Butmylifeistoodangerousforme
tocontemplatealastingunion.Ifitweren’tforthat…Pavettaisstillayoung
girl,anunopenedbud,butIcansee…”
“Seewhat?”
“Theappledoesnotfallfarfromthetree.”EistTuirseachsmiled,flashing
hiswhiteteeth.“Sufficeittolookatyou,myqueen,toknowhowbeautiful
theprincesswillbewhenshereachestheageatwhichawomancanpleasea
warrior.Inthemeantime,itisyoungmenwhooughttocourther.Suchasour
KingBran’snephewhere,CrachanCraite,whotraveledhereforexactlythat
purpose.”
Crach,bowinghisredhead,kneltononekneebeforethequeen.
“Whoelsehaveyoubrought,Eist?”
A thickset, robust man with a bushy beard, and a strapping fellow with
bagpipesonhisback,kneltbyCrachanCraite.
“ThisisthegallantdruidMousesack,who,likeme,isagoodfriendand
advisor to King Bran. And this is Draig Bon-Dhu, our famous skald. And
thirtyseamenfromSkelligearewaitinginthecourtyard,burningwithhopeto
catchaglimpseofthebeautifulCalantheofCintra.”
“Sitdown,nobleguests.Tuirseach,sir,sithere.”
Eisttookthevacantseatatthenarrowerendofthetable,onlyseparated
fromthequeenbyDrogodarandanemptychair.Theremainingislanderssat
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together on the left, between Marshal Vissegerd andthe three sons of Lord
Strept,Tinglant,FodcatandWieldhill.
“That’s more or less everyone.” The queen leaned over to the marshal.
“Let’sbegin,Vissegerd.”
Themarshal clappedhishands. Theservants,carrying plattersandjugs,
movedtowardthetableinalongline,greetedbyajoyfulmurmurfromthe
guests.
Calanthebarelyate, reluctantly pickingatthemorsels served her witha
silver fork. Drogodar, having bolted his food, kept strumminghis lute. The
restoftheguests,ontheotherhand,laidwastetotheroastpiglets,birds,fish
and mollusks on offer—with the red-haired Crach an Craite in the lead.
Rainfarn of Attre reprimanded the young Prince Windhalm severely, even
slapping his hand when he reached for a jug ofcider. Coodcoodak stopped
picking bones for a moment and entertained his neighbors by imitating the
whistleofamudturtle.Theatmospheregrewmerrierbytheminute.Thefirst
toastswerebeingraised,andalreadybecominglessandlesscoherent.
Calanthe adjusted the narrow golden circlet on her curled ash-gray hair
andturnedtoGeralt,whowasbusycrackingopenahugeredlobster.
“It’s loud enough that we can exchange a few words discreetly. Let us
startwithcourtesies:I’mpleasedtomeetyou.”
“Thepleasure’smutual,yourMajesty.”
“Afterthecourtesiescomehardfacts.I’vegotajobforyou.”
“So I gathered. I’m rarely invited to feasts for the pleasure of my
company.”
“You’reprobablynotveryinterestingcompany,then.Whatelsehaveyou
gathered?”
“I’lltellyouwhenyou’veoutlinedmytask,yourMajesty.”
“Geralt,” said Calanthe, her fingers tapping an emerald necklace, the
smalleststoneofwhich was the size of a bumblebee, “what sort of task do
youexpect,asawitcher?What?Diggingawell?Repairingaholeintheroof?
WeavingatapestryofallthepositionsKingVridankandthebeautifulCerro
tried on their wedding night? Surely you know what your profession’s
about?”
“Yes,Ido.I’lltellyouwhatI’vegathered,yourMajesty.”
“I’mcurious.”
“Igatheredthat.Andthat,likemanyothers,you’vemistakenmytradefor
analtogetherdifferentprofession.”
“Oh?” Calanthe, casually leaning toward the lute-strumming Drogodar,
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gavetheimpressionofbeingpensiveandabsent.“Who,Geralt,makesupthis
ignoranthordewithwhomyouequateme?Andforwhatprofessiondothose
foolsmistakeyourtrade?”
“YourMajesty,” saidGeraltcalmly,“whileI wasridingto Cintra,Imet
villagers, merchants, peddlers, dwarves, tinkers and woodcutters. They told
meaboutablackanniswhohasitshideoutsomewhereinthesewoods,alittle
house on a chicken-claw tripod. They mentioned a chimera nestling in the
mountains.Aeschnesandcentipedeanomorphs.Apparentlyamanticorecould
also be found if you look hard enough. So many tasks a witcher could
perform without having to dress up in someone else’s feathers and coat of
arms.”
“Youdidn’tanswermyquestion.”
“Your Majesty, I don’t doubt that a marriage alliance with Skellige is
necessaryforCintra.It’spossible,too,thattheschemerswhowanttoprevent
itdeservealesson—usingmeanswhichdon’tinvolveyou.It’sconvenientif
thislessonweretobegivenbyanunknownlordfromFourhorn,whowould
then disappear from the scene. And now I’ll answer your question. You
mistakemytradeforthatofahiredkiller.Thoseothers,ofwhomthereareso
many,arerulers.It’snotthefirsttimeI’vebeencalledtoacourtwherethe
problemsdemandthequicksolutionsofasword.ButI’veneverkilledpeople
for money, regardless of whether it’s for a good or bad cause. And I never
will.”
Theatmosphereatthetablewasgrowingmoreandmorelivelyasthebeer
diminished.Thered-hairedCrachanCraitefoundappreciativelistenerstohis
taleofthebattleatThwyth.Havingsketchedamaponthetablewiththehelp
of meat bones dipped in sauce, he marked out the strategic plan, shouting
loudly. Coodcoodak, proving how apt his nickname was, suddenly cackled
like a very real sitting hen, creating general mirth among the guests, and
consternationamongthe servants who were convinced that a bird, mocking
their vigilance, had somehow managed to makeits way from the courtyard
intothehall.
“Thusfatehaspunishedmewithtooshrewdawitcher.”Calanthesmiled,
buthereyeswerenarrowedandangry.“Awitcherwho,withoutashadowof
respector,attheveryleast,ofcommoncourtesy, exposes my intrigues and
infamous plans. But hasn’t fascination with my beauty and charming
personalitycloudedyour judgment? Don’tever do thatagain, Geralt. Don’t
speaktothoseinpowerlikethat.Fewofthemwouldforgetyourwords,and
you know kings—they have all sorts of things at their disposal: daggers,
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poisons, dungeons, red-hot pokers. There are hundreds, thousands, of ways
kingscanavengetheirwoundedpride.Andyouwouldn’tbelievehoweasyit
is,Geralt, towoundsome rulers’ pride.Rarelywillanyof themtakewords
suchas‘No,’‘Iwon’t,’and‘Nevercalmly.Butthat’snothing.Interruptone
ofthemormakeinappropriatecomments,andyou’llcondemnyourselftothe
wheel.”
Thequeenclaspedhernarrowwhitehandstogetherandlightlyrestedher
chinonthem.Geraltdidn’tinterrupt,nordidhecomment.
“Kings,” continued Calanthe, “divide people into two categories—those
they order around, and those theybuy—because theyadhere tothe old and
banal truth that everyone can be bought. Everyone. It’s only a question of
price.Don’tyou agree?Ah,Idon’tneed to ask.You’reawitcher,after all;
youdoyourjobandtakethemoney.Asfarasyou’reconcerned,theideaof
beingboughthaslostitsscornfulundertone.Thequestionofyourprice,too,
isclear,relatedasitistothedifficultyofthetaskandhowwellyouexecute
it.Andyourfame,Geralt.Oldmenatfairsandmarketssingoftheexploitsof
the white-haired witcherfrom Rivia. Ifeven half of it istrue, then Iwager
yourservicesarenotcheap.Soitwouldbeawasteofmoneytoengageyouin
such simple, trite matters as palace intrigue or murder. Those can be dealt
withbyother,cheaperhands.”
“BRAAAK! Ghaaa-braaak!” roared Coodcoodak suddenly, to loud
applause. Geralt didn’t know which animal he was imitating, but he didn’t
want to meet anything like it. He turned his head and caught the queen’s
venomouslygreenglance.Drogodar,hisloweredheadandfaceconcealedby
Mscurtainofgrayhair,quietlystrummedhislute.
“Ah, Geralt,” said Calanthe, with a gesture forbidding a servant from
refillinghergoblet.“Ispeakandyouremainsilent.We’reatafeast.Weall
want to enjoy ourselves. Amuse me. I’m starting to miss your pertinent
remarksandperceptivecomments.I’dalsobepleasedtohearacompliment
or two, homage or assurance of your obedience. In whichever order you
choose.”
“Oh well, your Majesty,” said the witcher, “I’m not a very interesting
dinnercompanion.I’mamazedtobesingledoutforthehonorofoccupying
this place. Indeed, someone far more appropriate should have been seated
here. Anyone you wished. It would have sufficed for you to give them the
order,ortobuythem.It’sonlyaquestionofprice.”
“Go on, go on.” Calanthe tilted her head back and closed her eyes, the
semblanceofapleasantsmileonherlips.
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“So I’m honored and proud to be sitting by Queen Calanthe of Cintra,
whose beauty is surpassed only by her wisdom. I also regard it as a great
honorthatthequeenhasheardofmeandthat,onthebasisofwhatshehas
heard, does not wish to use me for trivial matters. Last winter Prince
Hrobarik,notbeingsogracious,triedtohiremetofindabeautywho,sickof
his vulgar advances, had fled the ball, losing a slipper. It was difficult to
convincehimthatheneededahuntsman,andnotawitcher.”
Thequeenwaslisteningwithanenigmaticsmile.
“Other rulers, too, unequal to you in wisdom, didn’t refrain from
proposingtrivialtasks.Itwasusuallyaquestionofthemurderofastepson,
stepfather,stepmother,uncle,aunt—it’shardtomentionthemall.Theywere
alloftheopinionthatitwassimplyaquestionofprice.”
Thequeen’ssmilecouldhavemeantanything.
“AndsoIrepeat”—Geraltbowedhisheadalittle—“thatIcan’tcontain
mypridetobesittingnexttoyou,ma’am.Andpridemeansaverygreatdeal
to us witchers. You wouldn’t believe how much. A lord once offended a
witcherspridebyproposingajobthatwasn’tinkeepingwitheitherhonoror
thewitcherscode.What’smore,hedidn’tacceptapoliterefusalandwished
to prevent the witcher from leaving his castle. Afterward, everyone agreed
thiswasn’toneofhisbestideas.”
“Geralt,” said Calanthe, after a moment’s silence, “you were wrong.
You’reaveryinterestingdinnercompanion.”
Coodcoodak, shaking beer froth from his whiskers and the front of his
jacket,cranedhisneckandgavethepenetratinghowlofashe-wolfinheat.
Thedogsinthecourtyard,andtheentireneighborhood,echoedthehowl.
OneofthebrothersfromStreptdippedhisfingerinhisbeerandtouched
upthethicklinearoundtheformationdrawnbyCrachanCraite.
“Errorand incompetence!” he shouted. “They shouldn’t have donethat!
Here, toward the wing, that’s where they should have directed the cavalry,
strucktheflanks!”
“Ha!” roared Crach an Craite, whacking the table with a bone and
splattering his neighbors’ faces and tunics with sauce. “And so weaken the
center?Akeyposition?Ludicrous!”
“Only someone who’s blind or sick in the head would miss the
opportunitytomaneuverinasituationlikethat!”
“That’sit!Quiteright!”shoutedWindhalmofAttre.
“Who’saskingyou,youlittlesnot?”
“Snotyourself!”
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“ShutyourgoborI’llwallopyou—”
“Sit on your arse and keep quiet, Crach,” called Eist Tuirseach,
interrupting his conversation with Vissegerd. “Enough of these arguments.
Drogodar, sir! Don’t waste your talent! Indeed, your beautiful though quiet
tunesshouldbelistenedtowithgreaterconcentrationandgravity.DraigBon-
Dhu, stop scoffing and guzzling! You’re not going to impress anyone here
like that. Pump up your bagpipes and delight our ears with decent martial
music.Withyourpermission,nobleCalanthe!”
“Ohmotherofmine,”whisperedthequeentoGeralt,raisinghereyesto
thevaultforamomentinsilentresignation.Butshenoddedherpermission,
smilingopenlyandkindly.
“DraigBon-Dhu,”saidEist,“playusthesongofthebattleofHochebuz.
Itwon’tleaveusinanydoubtastothetacticalmaneuversofcommanders—
or as to who acquired immortal fame there! To the health of the heroic
CalantheofCintra!”
“The health! And glory!” the guests roared, emptying their goblets and
claycups.
Draig Bon-Dhu’s bagpipes gave out an ominous drone and burst into a
terrible,drawn-out,modulatedwail.Thegueststookupthesong,beatingout
arhythmonthetablewithwhatevercametohand.Coodcoodakwasstaring
avidlyatthegoat-leathersack,captivatedbytheideaofadoptingitsdreadful
tonesinhisownrepertoire.
“Hochebuz,”saidCalante,lookingatGeralt,“myfirstbattle.AlthoughI
fearrousingtheindignationandcontemptofsuchaproudwitcher,Iconfess
thatwewerefightingformoney.Ourenemywasburningvillageswhichpaid
us levies and we, greedy for our tributes, challenged them on the field. A
trivialreason,atrivialbattle,atrivialthreethousandcorpsespeckedtopieces
bythe crows.Andlook—instead ofbeingashamed I’mproudasapeacock
thatsongsaresungaboutme.Evenwhensungtosuchawfulmusic.”
Again she summoned her parody of a smile full of happiness and
kindness, and answered the toast raised to her by lifting her own, empty,
goblet.Geraltremainedsilent.
“Let’s go on.” Calanthe accepted a pheasant leg offered to her by
Drogodarandpickedatitgracefully.“AsIsaid,you’vearousedmyinterest.
I’vebeentoldthatwitchersareaninterestingcaste,butIdidn’treallybelieve
it.NowIdo.Whenhit,yougiveanotewhichshowsyou’refashionedofpure
steel, unlike these men molded from bird shit. Which doesn’t, in any way,
changethefactthat you’re here to execute a task. And you’ll do it without
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beingsoclever.”
Geralt didn’t smile disrespectfully or nastily, although he very much
wantedto.Heheldhissilence.
“Ithought,” murmuredthequeen, appearingtogive herfullattentionto
thepheasant’sthigh,“thatyou’dsaysomething.Orsmile.No?Allthebetter.
CanIconsiderournegotiationsconcluded?”
“Uncleartasks,”saidthewitcherdryly,“can’tbeclearlyexecuted.”
“What’sunclear?Youdid,afterall,guesscorrectly.Ihaveplansregarding
amarriagealliancewithSkellige.Theseplansarethreatened,andIneedyou
toeliminatethethreat.Buthereyourshrewdnessends.ThesuppositionthatI
mistake your trade for that of a hired thug has piqued me greatly. Accept,
Geralt, that I belong to that select group of rulers who know exactly what
witchers do, and how they ought to be employed. On the other hand, if
someone kills as efficiently as you do, even though not for money, he
shouldn’tbe surprisedifpeople credithimwithbeinga professionalinthat
field.Yourfamerunsaheadofyou,Geralt;it’slouderthanDraigBon-Dhu’s
accursedbagpipes,andthereareequallyfewpleasantnotesinit.”
Thebagpipeplayer,althoughhecouldn’thearthequeen’swords,finished
his concert. The guests rewarded him with an uproarious ovation and
dedicated themselves with renewed zeal to the remains of the banquet,
recallingbattlesand making rude jokes about womenfolk. Coodcoodakwas
makingaseriesofloudnoises,buttherewasnowaytotellifthesewereyet
anotheranimalimitation,oranattempttorelievehisoverloadedstomach.
EistTuirseachleanedfaracrossthetable.“YourMajesty,”hesaid,“there
aregoodreasons,Iamsure,foryour dedication to the lord from Fourhorn,
butit’shightimewesawPrincessPavetta.Whatarewewaitingfor?Surely
notforCrachanCraitetogetdrunk?Andeventhatmomentisalmosthere.”
“You’rerightasusual,Eist.”Calanthesmiledwarmly.Geraltwasamazed
byherarsenalofsmiles.“Indeed,Idohaveimportantmatterstodiscusswith
theHonorable Ravix. I’ll dedicate some time to you too, butyou know my
principle:dutythenpleasure.Haxo!”
She raised her hand and beckoned the castellan. Haxo rose without a
word,bowed,andquicklyranupstairs,disappearingintothedarkgallery.The
queenturnedtothewitcher.
“You heard? We’ve been debating for too long. If Pavetta has stopped
preening in front of the looking glass,she’ll be here presently. So prick up
yourearsbecauseIwon’trepeatthis.Iwanttoachievetheendswhich,toa
certaindegree,youhaveguessed.Therecanbenoothersolution.Asforyou,
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youhaveachoice.Youcanbeforcedtoactbymycommand—Idon’twishto
dwell on the consequences of disobedience, although obedience will be
generouslyrewarded—oryoucanrendermeapaidservice.NotethatIdidn’t
say“Icanbuyyou,’becauseI’vedecidednottooffendyourwitcherspride.
There’sahugedifference,isn’tthere?”
“Themagnitudeofthisdifferencehassomehowescapedmynotice.”
‘Thenpaygreaterattention.Thedifference,mydearwitcher,isthatone
who is bought is paid according to the buyers whim, whereas one who
rendersaservicesetshisownprice.Isthatclear?”
“Toacertainextent.Let’ssay,then,thatIchoosetoserve.SurelyIshould
knowwhatthatentails?”
“No. Only a commandhas tobe specific and explicit. A paidservice is
different.I’m interested in the results, nothing more.How youachieve itis
yourbusiness.”
Geralt, raising his head, met Mousesack’s penetrating black gaze. The
druid of Skellige, without taking his eyes from the witcher, was crumbling
breadinhishandsanddroppingitasiflostinthought.Geraltlookeddown.
Thereontheoaktable,crumbs,grainsofbuckwheatandfragmentsoflobster
shellweremovinglikeants.Theywereformingruneswhichjoinedup—fora
moment—intoaword.Aquestion.
Mousesack waited without taking his eyes off him. Geralt, almost
imperceptibly,nodded.Thedruidloweredhiseyelidsand,withastonyface,
swipedthecrumbsoffthetable.
“Honorablegentlemen!”calledtheherald.“PavettaofCintra!”
Theguestsgrewsilent,turningtothestairs.
Precededbythecastellanandafair-hairedpageinascarletdoublet,the
princess descended slowly, her head lowered. The color of her hair was
identicaltoher mothers—ash-gray—but she wore it braidedinto two thick
plaitswhichreachedbelowherwaist.Pavettawasadornedonlywithatiara
ornamented with a delicately worked jewel and a belt of tiny golden links
whichgirdedherlongsilvery-bluedressatthehips.
Escorted by the page, herald, castellan and Vissegerd, the princess
occupiedtheemptychairbetweenDrogodarandEistTuirseach.Theknightly
islanderimmediatelyfilledhergobletandentertainedherwithconversation.
Geralt didn’t notice her answer with more than a word. Her eyes were
permanently lowered, hidden behind her long lashes even during the noisy
toasts raised to her around the table. There was no doubt her beauty had
impressedtheguests—CrachanCraitestoppedshoutingandstaredatPavetta
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in silence, even forgetting his tankard of beer. Windhalm of Attre was also
devouringtheprincesswithhiseyes,flushingshadesofredasthoughonlya
few grains in the hourglass separated them from their wedding night.
CoodcoodakandthebrothersfromStreptwerestudyingthegirl’spetiteface,
too,withsuspiciousconcentration.
“Aha,” said Calanthe quietly, clearly pleased. “And what do you say,
Geralt?Thegirlhastakenafterhermother.It’sevenashametowasteheron
that red-haired lout, Crach. The only hope is that the pup might grow into
someone with EistTuirseach’s class. It’s the same blood,after all. Areyou
listening, Geralt? Cintra has to form an alliance with Skellige because the
interestof the state demands it. My daughter has tomarry the rightperson.
Thosearetheresultsyoumustensureme.”
“Ihavetoensurethat?Isn’tyourwillalonesufficientforittohappen?”
“Eventsmighttakesuchaturnthatitwon’tbesufficient.”
“Whatcanbestrongerthanyourwill?”
“Destiny.”
“Aha.SoI,apoorwitcher,amtofacedownadestinywhichisstronger
thantheroyalwill.Awitcherfightingdestiny!Whatirony!”
“Yes,Geralt?Whatirony?”
“Nevermind.YourMajesty,itseemstheserviceyoudemandborderson
theimpossible.”
“If it bordered on the possible,” Calanthe drawled, “I would manage it
myself. I wouldn’t need the famous Geralt of Rivia. Stop being so clever.
Everythingcanbedealtwith—it’sonlyaquestionofprice.Bloodyhell,there
must be a figure on your witchers’ pricelist for work that borders on the
impossible.Icanguessone,anditisn’tlow.Youensurememyoutcomeand
Iwillgiveyouwhatyouask.”
“Whatdidyousay?”
“I’llgiveyouwhateveryouaskfor.AndIdon’tlikebeingtoldtorepeat
myself.Iwonder,witcher,doyoualwaystrytodissuadeyouremployersas
stronglyasyouareme?Timeisslippingaway.Answer,yesorno?”
“Yes.”
“That’sbetter.That’sbetter,Geralt.Youranswersaremuchclosertothe
ideal.They’rebecomingmorelikethoseIexpectwhenIaskaquestion.So.
Discreetlystretchyourlefthandoutandfeelbehindmythrone.”
Geralt slipped his hand under the yellow-blue drapery. Almost
immediately he felt a sword secured to the leather-upholstered backrest. A
swordwell-knowntohim.
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“Your Majesty,” hesaid quietly, “not torepeatwhat I saidearlierabout
killingpeople,youdorealizethataswordalonewillnotdefeatdestiny?”
“Ido.”Calantheturnedherheadaway.“Awitcherisalsonecessary.As
yousee,Itookcareofthat.”
“YourMaje—”
“Notanotherword,Geralt.We’vebeenconspiringfortoolong.They’re
lookingatus,andEistisgettingangry.Talktothecastellan.Havesomething
toeat.Drink,butnottoomuch.Iwantyoutohaveasteadyhand.”
Heobeyed.ThequeenjoinedaconversationbetweenEist,Vissegerdand
Mousesack,withPavetta’ssilentanddreamyparticipation.Drogodarhadput
away his lute and was making up for his lost eating time. Haxo wasn’t
talkative. The voivode with the hard-to-remember name, who must have
heardsomethingabout the affairsand problems ofFourhorn, politely asked
whetherthemareswerefoalingwell.Geraltansweredyes,muchbetterthan
thestallions.Hewasn’tsureifthejokehadbeenwelltaken,butthevoivode
didn’taskanymorequestions.
Mousesack’seyesconstantlysoughtthewitchers,butthecrumbsonthe
tabledidn’tmoveagain.
Crach an Craite was becoming more and more friendly with the two
brothers from Strept. The third, the youngest brother, was paralytic, having
triedtomatchthedrinkingspeedimposedbyDraigBon-Dhu.Theskaldhad
emergedfromitunscathed.
The younger and less important lords gathered at the end of the table,
tipsy, started singing a well-known song—out of tune—about a little goat
withhornsandavengefuloldwomanwithnosenseofhumor.
Acurly-hairedservant andacaptain oftheguards wearingthegoldand
blue of Cintra ranup to Vissegerd. The marshal, frowning,listenedto their
report,rose,andleaneddownfrombehindthethronetomurmursomethingto
the queen. Calanthe glanced at Geralt and answered with a single word.
Vissegerdleanedoverevenfurtherandwhisperedsomethingmore;thequeen
lookedathimsharplyand,withoutaword,slappedherarmrestwithanopen
palm. The marshal bowed and passed the command to the captain of the
guards. Geralt didn’t hear it but he did notice that Mousesack wriggled
uneasilyandglancedatPavetta—theprincesswassittingmotionless,herhead
lowered.
Heavy footsteps, each accompanied by the clang of metal striking the
floor,couldbeheardoverthehumatthetable.Everyoneraisedtheirheads
andturned.
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The approaching figure was clad in armor of iron sheets and leather
treatedwithwax.Hisconvex,angular,blackandbluebreastplateoverlapped
asegmentedapronandshortthighpads.Thearmor-platedbrassardsbristled
withsharp,steelspikesandthevisor,withitsdenselygratedscreenextending
out in the shape of a dog’s muzzle, was covered with spikes like a conker
casing.
Clatteringandgrinding,thestrangeguestapproachedthetableandstood
motionlessinfrontofthethrone.
“Noblequeen,honorablegentlemen,”saidthenewcomer,bowingstiffly.
“Please forgiveme for disruptingyour ceremonious feast. Iam Urcheon of
Erlenwald.”
“Greetings, Urcheon of Erlenwald,” said Calanthe slowly. “Please take
yourplaceatthetable.InCintrawewelcomeeveryguest.”
“Thankyou,yourMajesty.”UrcheonofErlenwaldbowedonceagainand
touchedhischestwithafistcladinanirongauntlet.“ButIhaven’tcometo
Cintra as a guest but on a matter of great importance and urgency. If your
Majesty permits, I will present my case immediately, without wasting your
time.”
“UrcheonofErlenwald,”saidthequeensharply,“apraiseworthyconcern
aboutourtimedoesnotjustifylackofrespect.Andsuchisyourspeakingto
usfrombehindanirontrellis.Removeyourhelmet,andwe’llendurethetime
wastedwhileyoudo.”
“My face, your Majesty, must remain hidden for the time being. “With
yourpermission.”
An angry ripple, punctuated here and there with the odd curse, ran
through the gathered crowd. Mousesack, lowering his head, moved his lips
silently.Thewitcherfeltthespellelectrifytheairforasecond,feltitstirhis
medallion. Calanthe was looking at Urcheon, narrowing her eyes and
drummingherfingersonherarmrest.
“Granted,” she said finally. “I choose to believe your motive is
sufficientlyimportant.So—whatbringsyouhere,Urcheon-without-a-face?”
“Thankyou,”saidthenewcomer.“ButI’munabletosuffertheaccusation
oflackingrespect,soIexplainthatitisamatterofaknight’svows.Iamnot
allowedtorevealmyfacebeforemidnightstrikes.”
Calanthe, raising her hand perfunctorily, accepted his explanation.
Urcheonadvanced,hisspikedarmorclanging.
“Fifteenyears ago,” he announced loudly, “yourhusbandKingRoegner
lost his way while hunting in Erlenwald. Wandering around the pathless
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tracts,hefellfromhishorseintoaravineandsprainedhisleg.Helayatthe
bottomofthegullyandcalledforhelpbuttheonlyanswerhegotwasthehiss
of vipers and the howlingofapproaching werewolves. He would havedied
withoutthehelphereceived.”
“Iknowwhathappened,”thequeenaffirmed.“Ifyouknowit,too,thenI
guessyouaretheonewhohelpedhim.”
“Yes.Itisonlybecauseofmehereturnedtoyouinonepiece,andwell.”
“Iamgratefultoyou,then,UrcheonofErlenwald.Thatgratitudeisnone
thelesserforthefactthatRoegner,gentlemanofmyheartandbed,hasleft
thisworld.Tellme,iftheimplicationthatyouraidwasnotdisinteresteddoes
notoffendanotherofyourknightlyvows,howIcanexpressmygratitude.”
“Youwellknowmyaidwasnotdisinterested.Youknow,too,thatIhave
cometocollectthepromisedrewardforsavingtheking’slife.”
“Oh yes?” Calanthe smiled but green sparks lit up her eyes. “So you
foundamanatthebottomofaravine,defenseless,wounded,atthemercyof
vipersandmonsters.Andonlywhenhepromisedyouarewarddidyouhelp?
Andifhedidn’twanttoorcouldn’tpromiseyousomething,you’dhaveleft
himthere,and,tothisday,Iwouldn’tknowwherehisboneslay?Hownoble.
No doubt your actions were guided by a particularly chivalrous vow at the
time.”
Themurmuraroundthehallgrewlouder.
“Andtodayyoucome for your reward, Urcheon?”continuedthequeen,
smiling even more ominously. “After fifteen years? No doubt you are
countingtheinterestaccruedoverthisperiod?Thisisn’tthedwarves’bank,
Urcheon. You say Roegner promised you a reward? Ah, well, it will be
difficulttogethimtopayyou.Itwouldbesimplertosendyoutohim,into
the other world, to reach an agreement over who owes what. I loved my
husbandtoodearly,Urcheon,toforgetthatIcouldhavelosthimthen,fifteen
yearsago,ifhehadn’tchosentobargainwithyou.Thethoughtofitarouses
rather-ill feeling toward you. Masked newcomer, do you know that here in
Cintra, in my castleandin my power,you are just ashelplessand close to
death as Roegner was then, at the bottom of the ravine? What will you
propose,whatprice,whatrewardwillyouoffer,ifIpromiseyouwillleave
herealive?”
The medallion on Geralt’s neck twitched. The witcher caught
Mousesack’s clearly uneasy gaze. He shook his head a little and raised his
eyebrows questioningly. The druid also shook his head and, with a barely
perceptiblemoveofhiscurlybeard,indicatedUrcheon.Geraltwasn’tsure.
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“Your words, your Majesty,” calledUrcheon, “arecalculated to frighten
me, to kindle the anger of the honorable gentlemen gathered here, and the
contempt of your pretty daughter, Pavetta. But above all, your words are
untrue.Andyouknowit!”
“You accuse me of lying like a dog.” An ugly grimace crept across
Calanthe’slips.
“Youknowverywell,yourMajesty,”thenewcomercontinuedadamantly,
“whathappenedtheninErlenwald.YouknowRoegner,oncesaved,vowedof
hisownwilltogivemewhateverIaskedfor.Icalluponeveryonetowitness
my words! When the king, rescued from his misadventure, reached his
retinue,heaskedmewhatIdemandedandIanswered.Iaskedhimtopromise
mewhateverhehadleftathomewithoutknowingorexpectingit.Theking
sworeitwouldbeso,andonhisreturntothecastlehefoundyou,Calanthe,
inlabor.Yes,yourMajesty,Iwaitedforfifteenyearsandtheinterestonmy
rewardhasgrown.TodayIlookatthebeautifulPavettaandseethatthewait
hasbeenworthit!Gentlemenandknights!SomeofyouhavecometoCintra
toaskfor theprincess’s hand.Youhavecome invain.Fromthe dayofher
birth, by the power of the royaloath, the beautiful Pavetta hasbelonged to
me!”
Anuproar burstforthamongtheguests.Someshouted,someoneswore,
someone else thumped his fist on the table and knocked the dishes over.
WieldhillofStrept pulledaknifeout of theroastlamb and waveditabout.
CrachanCraite,bentover,wasclearlytryingtobreakaplankfromthetable
trestle.
“That’sunheardof!”yelledVissegerd.“Whatproofdoyouhave?Proof?”
“Thequeen’sface,”exclaimedUrcheon,extendinghishand,“isthebest
proof!”
Pavetta sat motionless, not raising her head. The air was growing thick
withsomethingverystrange.Thewitchersmedallionwastearingatitschain
under the tunic. He saw the queen summon a page and whisper a short
command.Geraltcouldn’thearit,buthewaspuzzledbythesurpriseonthe
boy’s face andthefact that the command had toberepeated.The page ran
towardtheexit.
TheuproaratthetablecontinuedasEistTuirseachturnedtothequeen.
“Calanthe,”hesaidcalmly,“iswhathesaystrue?”
“And if it is,” the queen mutteredthrough her teeth, biting herlips and
pickingatthegreensashonhershoulder,“sowhat?”
“Ifwhathesaysistrue”—Eistfrowned—“thenthepromisewillhaveto
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bekept.”
“Isthatso?”
“Or am I to understand,” the islander asked grimly, “that you treat all
promisesthislightly,includingthosewhichhaveetchedthemselvessodeeply
inmymemory?”
Geralt,whohadneverexpectedtoseeCalantheblushdeeply,withtearsin
hereyesandtremblinglips,wassurprised.
“Eist,”whisperedthequeen,“thisisdifferent—”
“Isit,really?”
“Oh,you sonofabitch!”Crachan Craiteyelledunexpectedly, jumping
up.“ThelastfoolwhosaidI’dactedinvainwaspinchedapartbycrabsatthe
bottom of Allenker bay! I didn’t sail here from Skellig to return empty-
handed!Asuitorhasturnedup,somesonofatrollop!Someonebringmea
swordandgivethatidiotsomeiron!We’llsoonseewho—”
“Maybeyoucouldjustshutup,Crach?”Eistsnappedscathingly,resting
both fists on the table. “Draig Bon-Dhu! I render you responsible for his
futurebehavior!”
“Andare yougoingto silenceme,too, Tuirseach?” shoutedRainfarnof
Attre,standingup.“Whoisgoingtostopmefromwashingtheinsultthrown
atmyprinceawaywithblood?Andhisson,Windhalm,theonlymanworthy
of Pavetta’s hand and bed! Bring the swords! I’ll show that Urcheon, or
whateverhe’scalled,howweofAttretakerevengeforsuchabuse!Iwonder
whetheranybodyoranythingcanholdmeback?”
“Yes. Regard for good manners,” said Eist Tuirseach calmly. “It is not
propertostartafighthereorchallengeanyonewithoutpermissionfromthe
ladyofthehouse.Whatisthis?IsthethroneroomofCintraaninnwhereyou
can punch each others heads and stab each other with knives as the fancy
takesyou?”
Everybodystartedtoshoutagain,tocurseandswearandwavetheirarms
about. But the uproar suddenly stopped, as if cut by a knife, at the short,
furiousroarofanenragedbison.
“Yes,” said Coodcoodak, clearing his throat and rising from his chair.
“Eisthasitwrong.Thisdoesn’tevenlooklikeaninnanymore.It’smorelike
azoo, soabison shouldbeathomehere. HonorableCalanthe,allowmeto
offermyopinion.”
“Agreatmanypeople,Isee,”saidCalantheinadrawlingvoice,“havean
opinion on this problem and are offering it even without my permission.
Strange that you aren’t interested in mine? And in my opinion, this bloody
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castlewillsoonercollapseonmyheadthanIgivemyPavettatothiscrank.I
haven’ttheleastintention—”
“Roegnersoath—”Urcheonbegan,butthequeensilencedhim,banging
hergoldengobletonthetable.
“Roegnersoathmeansaboutasmuchtomeaslastyearssnows!Andas
for you, Urcheon, I haven’t decided whether to allow Crach or Rainfarn to
meet you outside, or to simply hang you. You’re greatly influencing my
decisionwithyourinterruption!”
Geralt, still disturbed by the way his medallion was quivering, looked
around the hall. Suddenly he saw Pavetta’s eyes, emerald green like her
mothers.Theprincesswasnolongerhidingthembeneathherlonglashes—
she swept them from Mousesack to the witcher, ignoring the others.
Mousesack,bentover,waswrigglingandmutteringsomething.
Coodcoodak,stillstanding,clearedhisthroatmeaningfully.
“Speak.”Thequeennodded.“Butbebrief.”
“As you command, your Majesty. Noble Calanthe and you, knights!
Indeed, Urcheon of Erlenwald made a strange request of King Roegner, a
strangerewardtodemandwhenthekingofferedhimhiswish.Butletusnot
pretendwe’veneverheardofsuchrequests,oftheLawofSurprise,asoldas
humanity itself. Of the price a man who saves another can demand, of the
grantingofaseeminglyimpossiblewish.‘Youwillgivemethefirstthingthat
comes to greet you.’ It might be a dog, you’llsay, a halberdier at thegate,
even a mother-in-law impatient to holler at her son-in-law when he returns
home.Or:‘You’llgivemewhatyoufindathomeyetdon’texpect.’Aftera
longjourney,honorablegentlemen,andanunexpectedreturn,thiscouldbea
lover in the wife’s bed. But sometimes it’s a child. A child marked out by
destiny.”
“Briefly,Coodcoodak.”Calanthefrowned.
“Asyoucommand.Sirs!Haveyounotheardofchildrenmarkedoutby
destiny?Wasnotthelegendaryhero,ZatretVoruta,giventothedwarvesasa
childbecausehewasthefirstpersonhisfathermetonhisreturn?AndMad
Dei,whodemandedatravelergivehimwhatheleftathomewithoutknowing
it?ThatsurprisewasthefamousSupree,wholaterliberatedMadDei”from
the curse which weighed him down. Remember Zivelena, who became the
Queen of Metinna with the help of the gnome Rumplestelt, and in return
promised him her firstborn? Zivelena didn’t keep her promise when
Rumplesteltcameforhisrewardand,byusingspells,sheforcedhimtorun
away.Notlongafterthat,bothsheandthechilddiedoftheplague.Youdo
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notdicewithDestinywithimpunity!”
“Don’t threaten me, Coodcoodak.” Calanthe grimaced. “Midnight is
close, the time for ghosts. Can you remember any more legends from your
undoubtedlydifficultchildhood?Ifnot,thensitdown.”
“IaskyourGrace”—thebaronturneduphislongwhiskers—“toallowme
to remain standing. I’d like to remind everybody of another legend. It’s an
old,forgottenlegend—we’veallprobablyhearditinourdifficultchildhoods.
Inthislegend,thekingskepttheirpromises.Andwe,poorvassals,areonly
boundtokingsbytheroyalword:treaties,alliances,ourprivilegesandfiefs
allrelyonit.Andnow?Arewetodoubtallthis?Doubttheinviolabilityof
theking’sword?Waituntilitisworthasmuchasyesteryearssnow?Ifthisis
how things are to be, then a difficult old age awaits us after our difficult
childhoods!”
“Whosesideareyouon,Coodcoodak?”holleredRainfarnofAttre.
“Silence!Lethimspeak!”
“Thiscackler,fullofhotair,insultsherMajesty!”
“TheBaronofTiggisright!”
“Silence,”Calanthesaidsuddenly,gettingup.“Lethimfinish.”
“Ithankyougraciously.”Coodcoodakbowed.“ButIhavejustfinished.”
Silencefell,strangeafterthecommotionhiswordshadcaused.Calanthe
wasstillstanding.Geraltdidn’tthinkanyoneelsehadnoticedherhandshake
asshewipedherbrow.
“My lords,” she said finally, “you deserve an explanation. Yes, this…
Urcheon…speaksthetruth.Roegnerdidsweartogivehimthatwhichhedid
notexpect.Itlooksasifourlamentedkingwasanoafasfarasawoman’s
affairsareconcerned,andcouldn’tbetrustedtocounttonine.Heconfessed
the truth on his deathbed, because he knew what I’d do to him if he’d
admitted it earlier. He knew what a mother, whose child is disposed of so
recklessly,iscapableof.”
Theknightsandmagnatesremainedsilent.Urcheonstoodmotionless,like
aspiked,ironstatue.
“And Coodcoodak,” continued Calanthe, “well, Coodcoodak has
remindedmethatIamnotamotherbutaqueen.Verywell,then.Asqueen,I
shallconvene a council tomorrow. Cintra isnot atyranny. Thecouncil will
decidewhetheradeadking’soathistodecidethefateofthesuccessortothe
throne.ItwilldecidewhetherPavettaandthethroneofCintraaretobegiven
to a stranger, or to act according to the kingdom’s interest.” Calanthe was
silentforamoment,lookingaskanceatGeralt.“Andasforthenobleknights
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whohavecometoCintrainthehopeoftheprincess’shand…Itonlyremains
for me to express my deep regret at the cruel disrespect and dishonor they
haveexperiencedhere,attheridiculepouredonthem.Iamnottoblame.”
Amid the humof voices which rumbledthrough the guests,the witcher
managedtopickoutEistTuirseach’swhisper.
“Onallthegodsofthesea,”sighedtheislander.“Thisisn’tbefitting.This
isopenincitementtobloodshed.Calanthe,you’resimplysettingthemagainst
eachother—”
“Bequiet,Eist,”hissedthequeenfuriously,“becauseI’llgetangry.”
Mousesack’s black eyes flashed as—with a glance—the druid indicated
RainfarnofAttrewho,withagloomy,grimacingface,waspreparingtostand.
Geraltreactedimmediately,standingupfirstandbangingthechairnoisily.
“Maybe it will prove unnecessary to convene the council,” he said in
ringingtones.
Everyone grew silent, watching him with astonishment. Geralt felt
Pavetta’s emerald eyes on him, he felt Urcheon’s gaze fall on him from
behindthelatticeofhisblackvisor,andhefelttheForcesurginglikeaflood-
waveandsolidifyingintheair.Hesawhow,undertheinfluenceofthisForce,
thesmokefromthetorchesandoillampswastakingonfantasticforms.He
knewthatMousesacksawittoo.Healsoknewthatnobodyelsesawit.
“Isaid,”he repeated calmly, “thatconveningthecouncil may not prove
necessary.YouunderstandwhatIhaveinmind,UrcheonofErlenwald?”
Thespikedknighttooktwogratingstepsforward.
“Ido,”hesaid,hiswordshollowbeneathhishelmet.“Itwouldtakeafool
nottounderstand.Iheardwhatthemercifulandnoblelady Calanthesaida
momentago.Shehas found an excellent way of gettingridofme.Iaccept
yourchallenge,knightunknowntome!”
“Idon’trecallchallengingyou,”saidGeralt.“Idon’tintendtoduelyou,
UrcheonofErlenwald.”
“Geralt!” called Calanthe, twisting her lips and forgetting to call the
witcherRavix,“don’toverdoit!Don’tputmypatiencetothetest!”
“Ormine,”addedRainfarnominously.CrachanCraitegrowled,andEist
Tuirseach meaningfully showed him a clenched fist. Crach growled even
louder.
“Everyone heard,” spoke Geralt, “Baron Tigg tell us about the famous
heroestakenfromtheirparentsonthestrengthofthesameoaththatUrcheon
receivedfromKingRoegner.Butwhyshouldanyonewantsuchanoath?You
know the answer,Urcheon of Erlenwald. Itcreatesa powerful, indissoluble
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tieofdestinybetweenthepersondemandingtheoathanditsobject,thechild-
surprise.Suchachild,markedbyblindfate,canbedestinedforextraordinary
things. It can play an incredibly important role in the life of the person to
whom fate has tied it. That is why, Urcheon, you demanded the prize you
claimtoday.Youdon’twantthethroneofCintra.Youwanttheprincess.”
“It is exactlyas you say, knight unknown tome.” Urcheon laughedout
loud.“ThatisexactlywhatIclaim!Givemetheonewhoismydestiny!”
“That,”saidGeralt,“willhavetobeproved.”
“You dare doubt it? After the queen confirmed the truth of my words?
Afterwhatyou’vejustsaid?”
“Yes.Becauseyoudidn’ttelluseverything.Roegnerknewthepowerof
the Law of Surprise and the gravity of the oath he took. And he took it
because he knew law and custom have a power which protects such oaths,
ensuring they are only fulfilled when the force of destiny confirms them. I
declare,Urcheon,thatyouhavenorighttotheprincessasyet.Youwillwin
heronlywhen—”
“Whenwhat?”
“Whentheprincessherselfagreestoleavewithyou.ThisiswhattheLaw
ofSurprisestates. It isthechild’s,nottheparent’s,consentwhichconfirms
theoath,whichprovesthatthechildwasbornundertheshadowofdestiny.
That’swhyyoureturnedafterfifteenyears,Urcheon,andthat’sthecondition
KingRoegnerstipulatedinhisoath.”
“Whoareyou?”
“IamGeraltofRivia.”
“Whoareyou,GeraltofRivia,toclaimtobeanoracleinmattersoflaws
andcustoms?”
“Heknowsthislawbetterthananyoneelse,”Mouse-sacksaidinahoarse
voice,“becauseitappliedtohimonce.Hewastakenfromhishomebecause
hewaswhathisfatherhadn’texpectedtofindonhisreturn.Becausehewas
destinedforotherthings.Andbythepowerofdestinyhebecamewhatheis.”
“Andwhatishe?”
“Awitcher.”
In the silence that reigned, the guardhouse bell struck, announcing
midnight in a dull tone. Everyone shuddered and raised their heads.
Mousesack watched Geralt with surprise. But it was Urcheon who flinched
mostnoticeablyandmoveduneasily.Hishands,cladintheirarmorgauntlets,
felltohissideslifelessly,andthespikedhelmetswayedunsteadily.
Thestrange,unknownForcesuddenlygrewthicker,fillingthehalllikea
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graymist.
“It’strue,”saidCalanthe.“Geralt,presenthere,isawitcher.Histradeis
worthy of respect and esteem. He has sacrificed himself to protect us from
monstersandnightmaresborninthenight,thosesentbypowersominousand
harmfultoman.Hekillsthehorrorsandmonstersthatawaitusintheforests
and ravines. And those which have the audacity to enter our dwellings.”
Urcheonwassilent.“Andso,”continuedthequeen,raisingherringedhand,
“letthelawbefulfilled,lettheoathwhichyou,UrcheonofErlenwald,insist
should be satisfied, be satisfied. Midnight has struck. Your vow no longer
bindsyou.Liftyourvisor.Beforemydaughterexpressesherwill,beforeshe
decidesherdestiny,letherseeyourface.Weallwishtoseeyourface.”
Urcheon of Erlenwald slowly raised his armored hand, pulled at the
helmet’sfastenings,grabbeditbytheironhornandthrewitagainstthefloor
with a crash. Someone shouted, someone swore, someone sucked in their
breathwithawhistle.Onthequeen’sfaceappeareda wicked,verywicked,
smile.Acruelsmileoftriumph.
Abovethewide,semi-circularbreastplate,twobulbous,black,buttoneyes
looked out. Eyes set to either side of a blunt, elongated muzzle covered in
reddish bristles and full of sharp white fangs. Urcheon’s head and neck
bristledwithabrushofshort,gray,twitchingprickles.
“ThisishowIlook,”spokethecreature,“whichyouwellknew,Calanthe.
Roegner, in telling you of his oath, wouldn’t have omitted describing me.
UrcheonofErlenwaldtowhom—despitemyappearance—Roegnersworehis
oath.Youpreparedwellformyarrival,queen.Yourownvassalshavepointed
out your haughty and contemptuous refusal to keepRoegners word. When
your attempt to set the other suitors on me didn’t succeed, you still had a
killerwitcherinreserve,readyatyourrighthand.Andfinally,common,low
deceit.You wanted to humiliate me,Calanthe. Know thatit isyourself you
havehumiliated!”
“Enough.” Calanthe stood up and rested her clenched fist on her hip.
“Let’sputanendtothis.Pavetta!Youseewho,orratherwhat,isstandingin
front of you, claiming you for himself. In accordance with the Law of
Surprise and eternal custom, thedecision isyours. Answer. One word from
you is enough. Yes, and you become the property, the conquest, of this
monster.No,andyouwillneverhavetoseehimagain.”
The Force pulsating in the hall was squeezing Geralt’s temples like an
ironvice,buzzinginhisears,makingthehaironhisneckstandonend.The
witcher looked at Mousesack’s whiteningknuckles,clenched at the edgeof
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the table. At the trickle of sweat running down the queen’s cheek. At the
breadcrumbsonthetable,movinglikeinsects,formingrunes,dispersingand
againgatheringintooneword:CAREFUL!
“Pavetta!”Calantherepeated.“Answer.Doyouchoosetoleavewiththis
creature?”
Pavettaraisedherhead.“Yes.”
TheForcefillingthehallechoedher,rumblinghollowlyinthearchesof
thevault.Noone,absolutelynoone,madetheslightestsound.
Calantheveryslowlycollapsedintoherthrone.Herfacewascompletely
expressionless.
“Everyoneheard,”Urcheon’scalmvoiceresoundedinthesilence.“You,
too,Calanthe.Asdidyou,witcher,cunning,hiredthug.Myrightshavebeen
established. Truth and destiny have triumphed over lies and deviousness.
Whatdoyouhaveleft,noblequeen,disguisedwitcher?Coldsteel?”Noone
answered. “I’d liketo leave with Pavettaimmediately,” continuedUrcheon,
hisbristlesstirringashesnappedhisjawshut,“butIwon’tdenymyselfone
smallpleasure.It is you, Calanthe, who will lead your daughterhere to me
andplaceherwhitehandinmine.”
Calanthe slowly turned her head in the witchers direction. Her eyes
expressedacommand.Geraltdidn’tmove,sensingthattheForcecondensing
in the airwas concentrated on him. Only on him.Now he understood.The
queen’seyesnarrowed,herlipsquivered…
“What?! What’s this?” yelled Crach an Craite, jumping up. “Her white
hand?Inhis?Theprincesswiththisbristlystinker?Withthis…pig’ssnout?”
“And I wanted to fight him like a knight!” Rainfarn chimed in. “This
horror,thisbeast!Loosethedogsonhim!Thedogs!”
“Guards!”criedCalanthe.
Everything happened at once. Crach an Craite seized a knife from the
table and knocked his chair over with a crash. Obeying Eist’s command,
Draig Bon-Dhu, without a thought, whacked the back of his head with his
bagpipes, as hard as he could. Crach dropped onto the table between a
sturgeon in gray sauce and the few remaining arched ribs of a roast boar.
Rainfarn leapt toward Urcheon, flashing a dagger drawn from his sleeve.
Coodcoodak, springing up, kicked a stool under his feet which Rainfarn
jumped agilely, but a moment’s delay was enough—Urcheon deceived him
withashort feintandforced him tohisknees withamightyblow fromhis
armored fist. Coodcoodak fell to snatch the dagger from Rainfarn but was
stoppedbyPrinceWindhalm,whoclungtohisthighlikeabloodhound.
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Guards, armed with guisarmes and lances, ran in from the entrance.
Calanthe, upright and threatening, with an authoritative, abrupt gesture
indicatedUrcheontothem.Pavettastartedtoshout,EistTuirseachtocurse.
Everyonejumpedup,notquiteknowingwhattodo.
“Killhim!”shoutedthequeen.
Urcheon,huffingangrilyandbaringhisfangs,turnedtofacetheattacking
guards.Hewasunarmedbutcladinspikedsteel,fromwhichthepointsofthe
guisarmes bounced witha clang. But theblows knocked himback, straight
ontoRainfarn,whowasjustgettingupandimmobilizedhimbygrabbinghis
legs. Urcheon let out a roar and, with his iron elbow-guards, deflected the
bladesaimedathishead.Rainfarnjabbedhimwithhisdaggerbuttheblade
slidoffthebreastplate.Theguards,crossingtheirspear-shafts,pinnedhimto
thesculptedchimney.Rainfarn,whowashangingontohisbelt,foundachink
inthearmoranddugthedaggerintoit.Urcheoncurledup.
“Dunyyyyyyy!”Pavettashrilledasshejumpedontothechair.
The witcher, sword in hand, sprang onto the table and ran toward the
fightingmen,knockingplates,dishesandgobletsallovertheplace.Heknew
there wasn’t much time. Pavetta’s cries were sounding more and more
unnatural.Rainfarnwasraisinghisdaggertostabagain.
Geralt cut, springing from the table into a crouch. Rainfarn wailed and
staggered to the wall. The witcher spun and, with the center of his blade,
slashedaguardwhowastryingtodigthesharptongueofhislancebetween
Urcheon’sapronandbreastplate.Theguardtumbledtotheground,losinghis
helmet.Moreguardscamerunninginfromtheentrance.
“This is not befitting!” roared Eist Tuirseach, grabbing a chair. He
shattered the unwieldly piece of furniture against the floor with great force
and, with what remained his hand, threw himself at those advancing on
Urcheon.
Urcheon,caughtbytwoguisarmehooksatthesametime,collapsedwith
aclang,criedoutandhuffedashewasdraggedalongthefloor.Athirdguard
raisedhislancetostabdownandGeraltcuthiminthetemplewiththepoint
ofhissword.ThosedraggingUrcheonsteppedbackquickly,throwingdown
theirguisarmes,whilethoseapproachingfromtheentrancebackedawayfrom
theremnantsofchairbrandishedbyEistlikethemagicswordBalmurinthe
handofthelegendaryZatretaVoruta.
Pavetta’s cries reached a peak and suddenly broke off. Geralt, sensing
whatwasabouttohappen,felltothefloorwatchingforagreenishflash.He
felt an excruciating pain in his ears, heard a terrible crash and a horrifying
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wailrippedfromnumerousthroats.Andthentheprincess’seven,monotonous
andvibratingcry.
Thetable,scatteringdishesandfoodallaround,wasrisingandspinning;
heavy chairs were flying around the hall and shattering against the walls;
tapestries and hangingswere flapping, raising cloudsof dust. Criesand the
drycrackofguisarmeshaftssnappinglikestickscamefromtheentrance.
Thethrone,withCalanthesittingonit,sprangupandflewacrossthehall
likeanarrow,smashingintothewallwithacrashandfallingapart.Thequeen
slidtothefloorlikearaggedpuppet.EistTuirseach,barelyonhisfeet,threw
himself toward her, took her in his arms and sheltered her from the hail
peltingagainstthewallsandfloorwithhisbody.
Geralt,graspingthemedallioninhishand,slitheredasquicklyashecould
toward Mousesack, miraculously still on his knees, who was lifting a short
hawthorn wand with a rat’s skull affixed to thetip. On the wall behind the
druid,atapestrydepictingthesiegeandfireofFortressOrtagarwasburning
withveryrealflames.
Pavetta wailed. Turning round and round, she lashed everything and
everybody with her cries as if with a whip. Anyone who tried to stand
tumbledtothegroundorwasflattenedagainstthewall.Anenormoussilver
sauceboat in the shape of a many-oared vesselwith an upturnedbow came
whistling through the air in front of Geralt’s eyes and knocked down the
voivode with thehard-to-remember name justas he was trying tododge it.
Plaster rained down silently as the table rotated beneath the ceiling, with
CrachanCraiteflattenedonitandthrowingdownvilecurses.
Geralt crawled to Mousesack and they hid behind the heap formed by
FodcatofStrept,abarrelofbeer,Drogodar,achairandDrogodarslute.
“It’spure,primordialForce!”thedruidyelledovertheracketandclatter.
“She’sgotnocontroloverit!”
“Iknow!”Geraltyelledback.Aroastpheasantwithafewstripedfeathers
stillstuckinitsrump,fellfromnowhereandthumpedhimintheback.
“Shehastoberestrained!Thewallsarestartingtocrack!”
“Icansee!”
“Ready?”
“Yes!”
“One!Two!Now!”
They both hit her simultaneously, Geralt with the Sign of Aard and
Mousesack with a terrible, three-staged curse powerful enough to make the
floor melt. The chair on which the princess was standing disintegrated into
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splinters. Pavetta barely noticed—she hung in the air within a transparent
greensphere.Withoutceasingtoshout,sheturnedherheadtowardthemand
herpetitefaceshrunkintoasinistergrimace.
“Byallthedemons—!”roaredMousesack.
“Careful!”shoutedthewitcher,curlingup.“Blockher,Mousesack!Block
herorit’stheendofus!”
The table thudded heavily to the ground, shattering its trestle and
everything beneath it. Crach an Craite, who was lying on the table, was
thrownintotheair.Aheavyrainofplatesandremnantsoffoodfell;crystal
carafes exploded as they hit the ground. The cornice broke away from the
wall,rumblinglikethunder,makingthefloorsofthecastlequake.
“Everything’s letting go!” Mousesack shouted, aiming his wand at the
princess.“ThewholeForceisgoingtofallonus!”
Geralt, with a blow of his sword,deflected a hugedouble-pronged fork
whichwasflyingstraightatthedruid.
“Blockit,Mousesack!”
Emeraldeyessenttwoflashesofgreenlightningatthem.Theycoiledinto
blinding, whirling funnels from the centers of which the Force—like a
battering ram which exploded the skull, put out the eyes and paralyzed the
breath—descended on them. Together with the Force, glass, majolica,
platters, candlesticks, bones, nibbled loaves of bread, planks, slats and
smolderingfirewoodfromthehearthpouredoverthem.Cryingwildlylikea
greatcapercaillie,CastellanHaxoflewovertheirheads.Theenormoushead
ofaboiledcarpsplatteredagainstGeralt’schest,onthebearpassantsableand
damselofFourhorn.
Through Mousesack’s wall-shattering curses, through his own shouting
andthewailingofthewounded,thedin,clatterandracket,throughPavetta’s
wailing,thewitchersuddenlyheardthemostterriblesound.
Coodcoodak,onhisknees,wasstranglingDraigBon-Dhu’sbagpipeswith
hishands,while,withhisheadthrownback,heshoutedoverthemonstrous
sounds emerging from the bag, wailed and roared, cackled and croaked,
bawled and squawked in a cacophony of sounds made by all known,
unknown,domestic,wildandmythicalanimals.
Pavetta fell silent, horrified, and looked at the baron with her mouth
agape.TheForceeasedoffabruptly.
“Now!”yelledMousesack,wavinghiswand.“Now,witcher!”
They hit her. The greenish sphere surrounding the princess burst under
theirblowlikeasoapbubble and the vacuum instantly sucked in the Force
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ragingthroughtheroom.Pavettafloppedheavilytothegroundandstartedto
weep.
Afterthepandemonium,amoment’ssilencerangintheirears;then,with
difficulty, laboriously, voices started to break through the rubble and
destruction,throughthebrokenfurnitureandtheinertbodies.
“Cuachoparse,ghoulybadraighmalancuach,”spatCrachanCraite,
sprayingbloodfromhisbittenlip.
“Control yourself, Crach,” said Mousesack with effort, shaking
buckwheatfromhisfront.“Therearewomenpresent.”
“Calanthe.Mybeloved.MyCalanthe!”EistTuirseachsaidinthepauses
betweenkisses.
Thequeenopenedhereyesbutdidn’ttrytofreeherselffromhisembrace.
“Eist.Peoplearewatching,”shesaid.
“Letthemwatch.”
“Would somebody care to explain what that was?” asked Marshal
Vissegerd,crawlingfrombeneathafallentapestry.
“No,”saidthewitcher.
“Adoctor!”WindhalmofAttre,leaningoverRainfarn,shoutedshrilly.
“Water!” Wieldhill, one of the brothers from Strept, called, stifling the
smolderingtapestrywithhisjacket.“Water,quickly!”
“Andbeer!”Coodcoodakcroaked.
A few knights, still able to stand, were trying to lift Pavetta, but she
pushedtheirhandsaside,gotuponherownand,unsteadily,walkedtoward
the hearth. There, with his back resting against the wall, sat Urcheon,
awkwardlytryingtoremovehisblood-smearedarmor.
“The youth of today,” snorted Mousesack, looking in their direction.
“Theystartearly!They’veonlygotonethingontheirminds.”
“What’sthat?”
“Didn’t you know, witcher, that a virgin, that is one who’s untouched,
wouldn’tbeabletousetheForce?”
“Tohellwithhervirginity,”mutteredGeralt.“Where didshe getsucha
giftanyway?NeitherCalanthenorRoegner—”
“She inherited it, missing a generation,andno mistake,” said the druid.
“Her grandmother, Adalia, could raise a drawbridge with a twitch of her
eyebrows.Hey,Geralt,lookatthat!Shestillhasn’thadenough!”
Calanthe, supported by Eist Tuirseach’s arm, indicated the wounded
Urcheon to the guards. Geralt and Mousesack approached quickly but
unnecessarily. The guards recoiled from the semi-reclining figure and,
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whisperingandmuttering,backedaway.
Urcheon’smonstroussnoutsoftened,blurredandwasbeginningtoloseits
contours.Thespikesandbristlesrippledandbecameblack,shiny,wavyhair
andabeardwhichborderedapale,angular,masculineface,dominatedbya
prominentnose.
“What…”stammeredEistTuirseach.“Who’sthat?Urcheon?”
“Duny,”saidPavettasoftly.
Calantheturnedawaywithpursedlips.
“Cursed?”murmuredEist.“Buthow—”
“Midnight has struck,” said the witcher. “Just this minute. The bell we
heardbeforewasearly.Thebell-ringersmistake.AmIright,Calanthe?”
“Right, right,” groaned the man called Duny, answering instead of the
queen, who had no intention of replying anyway. “But maybe instead of
standing there talking, someone could help me with this armor and call a
doctor.ThatmadmanRainfarnstabbedmeundertheribs.”
“Whatdoweneedadoctorfor?”saidMousesack,takingouthiswand.
“Enough.”Calanthestraightenedandraisedherheadproudly.“Enoughof
this.Whenallthisisover,Iwanttoseeyouinmychamber.Allofyou,as
youstand.Eist,Pavetta,Mousesack,Geraltandyou…Duny.Mousesack?”
“Yes,yourMajesty.”
“Thatwandofyours…I’vebruisedmybackbone.Andthereabouts.”
“Atyourcommand,yourMajesty.”
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III
“…acurse,”continuedDuny,rubbinghistemple.“Sincebirth.Ineverfound
areasonforit,orwhodidittome.Frommidnighttodawn,anordinaryman,
fromdawn…yousawwhat.Akerspaark,myfather,wantedtohideit.People
aresuperstitiousinMaecht;spellsandcursesintheroyalfamilycouldprove
fatalforthedynasty.Oneofmyfathersknightstookmeawayfromcourtand
broughtmeup.Thetwoofuswanderedaroundtheworld—theknighterrant
andhissquire,andlater,whenhedied,Ijourneyedalone.Ican’tremember
whotoldmethatachild-surprisecouldfreemefromthecurse.Notlongafter
that,ImetRoegner.Therestyouknow.”
“Therestweknow,orcanguess.”Calanthenodded.“Especiallythatyou
didn’t wait the fifteen years agreed upon with Roegner but turned my
daughtersheadbeforethat.Pavetta!Sincewhen?”
Theprincessloweredherheadandraisedafinger.
“There. You little sorceress. Right under my nose! Let me just find out
wholethimintothecastleatnight!Letmeattheladies-in-waitingyouwent
gatheringprimroseswith.Primroses,dammit!Well,whatamItodowithyou
now?”
“Calanthe—”beganEist.
“Hold on, Tuirseach. I haven’t finished yet. Duny, the matters become
verycomplicated.You’vebeenwithPavettaforayearnow,andwhat?And
nothing.Soyounegotiatedtheoathfromthewrongfather.Destinyhasmade
afoolofyou.Whatirony,asGeraltofRivia,presenthere,iswonttosay.”
“To hellwith destiny, oaths and irony.” Duny grimaced.“I lovePavetta
and she loves me; that’s all that counts. You can’t stand in the way of our
happiness.”
“I can, Duny, I can, and how.” Calanthe smiled one of her unfailing
smiles.“You’reluckyIdon’twantto.Ihaveacertaindebttowardyou,Duny.
I’dmadeupmymind…Ioughttoaskyourforgiveness,butIhatedoingthat.
SoI’mgivingyouPavettaandwe’llbequits.Pavetta?Youhaven’tchanged
yourmind,haveyou?”
Theprincessshookherheadeagerly.
“Thankyou,yourMajesty.Thankyou.”Dunysmiled.“You’reawiseand
generousqueen.”
“OfcourseIam.Andbeautiful.”
“Andbeautiful.”
149
“You can both stay in Cintra if you wish. The people here are less
superstitious than the inhabitants of Maecht and adjust to things quicker.
Besides, even as Urcheon you were quite pleasant. But you can’t count on
havingthethronejustyet.Iintendtoreignalittlelongerbesidethenewking
ofCintra.ThenobleEistTuirseachofSkelligehasmademeaveryinteresting
proposition.”
“Calanthe—”
“Yes, Eist, I accept. I’ve never before listened to a confession of love
whilelyingontheflooramidstfragmentsofmyownthronebut…Howdid
youputit,Duny?ThisisallthatcountsandIdon’tadviseanyonetostandin
thewayofmyhappiness.Andyou,whatareyoustaringat?I’mnotasoldas
youthink.”
“Today’syouth,”mutteredMousesack.“Theappledoesn’tfallfar—”
“Whatareyoumuttering,sorcerer?”
“Nothing,ma’am.”
“Good. While we’re at it, I’ve got a proposition for you, Mousesack.
Pavetta’sgoingtoneedateacher.Sheoughttolearnhowtousehergift.Ilike
this castle, and I’d prefer it to remain standing. It might fall apart at my
talenteddaughtersnextattackofhysteria.Howaboutit,Druid?”
“I’mhonored.”
“I think”—the queen turned her head toward the window—it’s dawn.
Timeto—”
ShesuddenlyturnedtowherePavettaandDunywerewhisperingtoeach
other,holdinghands,theirforeheadsallbuttouching.
“Duny!”
“Yes,yourMajesty?”
“Doyouhear?It’sdawn!It’salreadylight.Andyou…”
GeraltglancedatMousesackandbothstartedlaughing.
“Andwhyareyousohappy,sorcerers?Can’tyousee—?”
“Wecan,wecan,”Geraltassuredher.
“Wewerewaitinguntilyousawforyourself,”snortedMousesack.“Iwas
wonderingwhenyou’dcatchon.”
“Towhat?”
“That you’ve lifted the curse. It’s you who’s lifted it,” said the witcher.
“Themomentyousaid‘I’mgivingyouPavetta,’destinywasfulfilled.”
“Exactly,”confirmedthedruid.
“Oh gods,” said Duny slowly. “So, finally. Damn, I thought I’d be
happier, that some sort of trumpets would play or… Force of habit. Your
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Majesty!Thankyou.Pavetta,doyouhear?”
“Mhm,”saidtheprincesswithoutraisinghereyes.
“Andso,”sighedCalanthe, looking atGeraltwithtired eyes, “all’s well
that ends well. Don’t you agree, witcher? The curse has been lifted, two
weddingsareontheirway,it’lltakeaboutamonthtorepairthethrone-room,
there are four dead, countlesswounded andRain-farnof Attre is half-dead.
Let’s celebrate. Do you know, witcher, that there was a moment when I
wantedtohaveyou—”
“Iknow.”
“ButnowIhavetodoyoujustice.Idemandedaresultandgotone.Cintra
isalliedtoSkellige.Mydaughtersmarryingtherightman.ForamomentI
thoughtallthiswouldhavebeenfulfilledaccordingtodestinyanyway,even
ifIhadn’thadyoubroughtinforthefeastandsatyounexttome.ButIwas
wrong. Rainfarn’s dagger could have changed destiny. And Rainfarn was
stopped by a sword held by a witcher. You’ve done an honest job, Geralt.
Nowit’saquestionofprice.Tellmewhatyouwant.”
“Holdon,”saidDuny,fingeringhisbandagedside.“Aquestionofprice,
yousay.ItisIwhoamindebt;it’suptome—”
“Don’tinterrupt.”Calanthenarrowedhereyes.“Yourmother-in-lawhates
being interrupted. Remember that. And youshouldknow that you’re not in
any debt. It so happens that you were the subject of my agreement with
Geralt.Isaidwe’requitsandIdon’tseethesenseofmyhavingtoendlessly
apologizetoyouforit.Buttheagreementstillbindsme.Well,Geralt.Your
price.”
“Verywell,”saidthewitcher.“Iaskforyourgreensash,Calanthe.Mayit
alwaysremindmeofthecoloroftheeyesofthemostbeautifulqueenIhave
everknown.”
Calanthelaughed,andunfastenedheremeraldnecklace.
“This trinket,” she said, “has stones of the right hue. Keep it, and the
memory.”
“MayIspeak?”askedDunymodestly.
“Butofcourse,son-in-law,pleasedo,pleasedo.”
“IstillsayIaminyourdebt,witcher.ItismylifethatRainfarn’sdagger
endangered.Iwouldhavebeenbeatentodeathbytheguardswithoutyou.If
there’s talk of a price, then I should be the one to pay. I assure you I can
affordit.Whatdoyouask,Geralt?”
“Duny,”saidGeraltslowly,“awitcherwhoisaskedsuchaquestionhasto
asktohaveitrepeated.”
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“Irepeat,therefore.Because,yousee,Iaminyourdebtforstillanother
reason. When I foundout who you were,therein the hall, Ihatedyou and
thought very badly of you. I took you for a blind, bloodthirsty tool, for
someonewhokillscoldlyandwithoutquestion,whowipeshisbladecleanof
blood and counts the cash. But I’ve become convinced that the witchers
professionisworthyofrespect.Youprotectusnotonlyfromtheevillurking
inthedarkness,butalsofromthatwhichlieswithinourselves.It’sashame
therearesofewofyou.”
Calanthesmiled.
Forthefirsttimethatnight,Geraltwasinclinedtobelieveitwasgenuine.
“Myson-in-lawhasspokenwell.Ihavetoaddtwowordstowhathesaid.
Preciselytwo.Forgive,Geralt.”
“AndI,”saidDuny,“askagain.Whatdoyouaskfor?”
“Duny,” said Geralt seriously, “Calanthe, Pavetta. And you, righteous
knight Tuirseach, future king of Cintra. In order to become a witcher, you
have to be born in the shadow of destiny, and very few are born like that.
That’swhytherearesofewofus.We’regrowingold,dying,withoutanyone
topassourknowledge,ourgifts,onto.Welacksuccessors.Andthisworldis
fullofEvilwhichwaitsforthedaynoneofusareleft.”
“Geralt,”whisperedCalanthe.
“Yes,you’renotwrong,queen.Duny!Youwillgive methatwhichyou
alreadyhavebutdonotknow.I’llreturntoCintrainsixyearstoseeifdestiny
hasbeenkindtome.”
“Pavetta.”Dunyopenedhiseyeswide.“Surelyyou’renot—”
“Pavetta!”exclaimedCalanthe.“Areyou…areyou—?”
Theprincessloweredhereyesandblushed.Thenreplied.
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THEVOICEOFREASON
153
I
“Geralt!Hey!Areyouthere?”
Heraisedhisheadfromthecoarse,yellowedpagesofTheHistoryofthe
WorldbyRoderickdeNovembre,aninterestingifcontroversialworkwhich
hehadbeenstudyingsincethepreviousday.
“Yes,Iam.What’shappened,Nenneke?Doyouneedme?”
“You’vegotaguest.”
“Again?Who’sitthistime?DukeHerewardhimself?”
“No.It’sDandilionthistime,yourfellow.Thatidler,parasiteandgood-
for-nothing, that priest of art, the bright-shining star of the ballad and love
poem. As usual, he’s radiant with fame, puffed up like a pig’s bladder and
stinkingofbeer.Doyouwanttoseehim?”
“Ofcourse.He’smyfriend,afterall.”
Nenneke, peeved, shrugged her shoulders. “I can’t understand that
friendship.He’syourabsoluteopposite.”
“Oppositesattract.”
“Obviously. There, he’s coming.” She indicated with her head. “Your
famouspoet.”
“Hereallyisafamouspoet,Nenneke.Surelyyou’renotgoingtoclaim
you’veneverheardhisballads.”
“I’veheardthem.”Thepriestesswinced.“Yes,indeed.Well,Idon’tknow
much about it, but maybe the ability to jump from touching lyricism to
obscenities so easily is a talent. Never mind. Forgive me, but I won’t keep
youcompany.I’mnotinthemoodforeitherhispoetryorhisvulgarjokes.”
Apealoflaughterandthestrummingofaluteresoundedinthecorridor
andthere,onthethresholdofthelibrary,stoodDandilioninalilacjerkinwith
lacecuffs,hishataskew.Thetroubadourbowedexaggeratedlyatthesightof
Nenneke,theheronfeatherpinnedtohishatsweepingthefloor.
“Mydeepestrespects,venerablemother,”hewhinedstupidly.“Praisebe
theGreatMeliteleandherpriestesses,thespringsofvirtueandwisdom—”
“Stoptalkingbullshit,”snortedNenneke.“Anddon’tcallmemother.The
veryideathatyoucouldbemysonfillsmewithhorror.”
Sheturnedonherheelandleft,hertrailingroberustling.Dandilion,aping
her,sketchedaparodybow.
“Shehasn’tchangedabit,”hesaidcheerfully.“Shestillcan’ttakeajoke.
She’s furious because I chatted a bit to the gatekeeper when I got here, a
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prettyblondewithlonglashesandavirgin’splaitreachingdowntohercute
littlebottom,whichitwouldbeasinnottopinch.SoIdidandNenneke,who
hadjustarrived…Ah,whatthedeuce.Greetings,Geralt.”
“Greetings,Dandilion.HowdidyouknowIwashere?”
The poet straightened himself and yanked his trousers up. “I was in
Wyzim,” he said. “I heard about the striga, and that you were wounded. I
guessed where you would come to recuperate. I see you’re well now, are
you?”
“Youseecorrectly,buttryexplainingthattoNenneke.Sit,let’stalk.”
Dandilion sat andpeeped into the booklying on thelectern. “History?”
He smiled. “Roderick de Novembre? I’ve read him, I have. History was
secondonmylistoffavoritesubjectswhenIwasstudyingattheAcademyin
Oxenfurt.”
“Whatwasfirst?”
“Geography,” said the poet seriously. “The atlas was bigger and it was
easiertohideademijohnofvodkabehindit.”
Geralt laughed dryly, got up, removed Lunin and Tyrss’s The Arcane
Mysteries of Magic and Alchemy from the shelf and pulled a round-bellied
vesselwrappedinstrawfrombehindthebulkyvolumeandintothelightof
day.
“Oho.”Thebardvisiblycheeredup.“Wisdomandinspiration,Isee,are
stilltobefoundinlibraries.Oooh!Ilikethis!Plum,isn’tit?Yes,thisistrue
alchemy. This is a philosophers stone well worth studying. Your health,
brother.Ooooh,it’sstrongastheplague!”
“What brings you here?” Geralt took the demijohn over from the poet,
tookasipandstartedtocough,fingeringhisbandagedneck.“Whereareyou
going?”
“Nowhere. That is, I could go where you’re going. I could keep you
company.Doyouintendstayingherelong?”
“Notlong.ThelocaldukeletitbeknownI’mnotwelcome.”
“Hereward?”Dandilionknewallthekings,princes,lordsandfeudallords
from Jaruga to the Dragon Mountains. “Don’t you give a damn. He won’t
darefallfoulofNenneke,orMelitele.Thepeoplewouldsetfiretohiscastle.”
“Idon’twantanytrouble.AndI’vebeensittingherefortoolonganyway.
I’m going south, Dandilion. Far south. I won’t find any work here.
Civilization.Whatthehelldotheyneedawitcherherefor?WhenIaskafter
employment,theylookatmeasifI’mafreak.”
“Whatareyoutalkingabout?Whatcivilization?IcrossedBuinaaweek
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ago and heard all sorts of storiesas I rode through the country. Apparently
there are water sprites here, myriapodans, chimera, flying drakes, every
possiblefilth.Youshouldbeuptoyourearsinwork.”
“Stories, well, I’ve heard them too. Half of them are either made up or
exaggerated.No, Dandilion. The world is changing.Something’s coming to
anend.”
Thepoettookalongpullatthedemijohn,narrowedhiseyesandsighed
heavily. “Are you crying over your sad fate as a witcher again? And
philosophizing on top of that? I perceive the disastrous effects of
inappropriateliterature,becausethefactthattheworldischangingoccurred
eventothatoldfartRoderickdeNovembre.Thechangeabilityoftheworld
is,asithappens,theonlythesisinthistreatiseyoucanagreewith.Butit’snot
soinnovativeyouhavetoplymewithitandputonthefaceofagreatthinker
—whichdoesn’tsuityouintheleast.”
Insteadofanswering,Geralttookasipfromthedemijohn.
“Yes,yes,”sighedDandilionanew.“Theworldischanging,thesunsets,
andthevodkaiscomingtoanend.Whatelse,inyouropinion,iscomingto
anend?Youmentionedsomethingaboutendings,philosopher.”
“I’llgiveyouacoupleofexamples,”saidGeraltafteramoment’ssilence,
“allfromtwomonthsthissideoftheBuina.OnedayIrideupandwhatdoI
see?Abridge.Andunderthatbridgesitsatrollanddemandseverypasserby
payshim.Thosewhorefusehavealeginjured,sometimesboth.SoIgotothe
alderman:‘Howmuchwillyougivemeforthattroll?’He’samazed.‘What
areyoutalkingabout?’heasks.‘Whowillrepairthebridgeifthetroll’snot
there?Herepairsitregularlywiththesweatofhisbrow,solidwork,firstrate.
It’scheapertopayhistoll.’SoIrideon,andwhatdoIsee?Aforktail.Not
verybig,aboutfouryardsnose-tiptotail-tip.It’sflying,carryingasheepin
its talons. I go to the village. ‘How much,’ I ask, ‘will you pay me for the
forktail?’Thepeasantsfallontheirknees.‘No!’theyshout.‘It’sourbaron’s
youngestdaughtersfavoritedragon.Ifascalefallsfromitsback,thebaron
will burn our hamlet, and skin us.’ I ride on, and I’m getting hungrier and
hungrier.Iaskaroundforwork.Certainlyit’sthere,butwhatwork?Tocatch
a rusalka for one man, a nymph foranother, a dryad for athird… They’ve
gone completely mad—the villages are teeming with girls but they want
humanoids.Anotherasksmetokillamecopteranandbringhimabonefrom
itshandbecause,crushedandpouredintoasoup,itcuresimpotence—”
“That’s rubbish,” interrupted Dandilion. “I’ve tried it. It doesn’t
strengthen anything andit makes the soup taste of oldsocks. But ifpeople
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believeitandareinclinedtopay—”
“I’mnotgoingtokillmecopterans.Noranyotherharmlesscreatures.”
“Thenyou’llgohungry.Unlessyouchangeyourlineofwork.”
“Towhat?”
“Whatever. Become a priest. You wouldn’t be bad at it with all your
scruples,yourmorality,yourknowledgeofpeopleandofeverything.Thefact
that you don’t believe in any gods shouldn’t be a problem—I don’t know
manypriestswhodo.Becomeapriestandstopfeelingsorryforyourself.”
“I’mnotfeelingsorryformyself.I’mstatingthefacts.”
Dandilioncrossedhislegsandexaminedhiswornsolewithinterest.“You
remind me, Geralt, of an old fisherman who, toward the end of his life,
discoversthatfishstinkandthebreezefromtheseamakesyourbonesache.
Be consistent. Talking and regretting won’t get you anywhere. If I were to
findthatthedemandforpoetryhadcometoanend,I’dhangupmyluteand
becomeagardener.I’dgrowroses.”
“Nonsense.You’renotcapableofgivingitup.”
“Well,” agreed the poet, still staring at his sole, “maybe not. But our
professions differ somewhat. The demand for poetry and the sound of lute
stringswillneverdecline.It’sworsewithyourtrade.Youwitchers,afterall,
deprive yourselves of work, slowly but surely. The better and the more
conscientiouslyyouwork,thelessworkthereisforyou.Afterall,yourgoal
is a world without monsters, a world which is peaceful and safe. A world
wherewitchersareunnecessary.Aparadox,isn’tit?”
“True.”
“Inthepast,whenunicornsstillexisted,therewasquitealargegroupof
girlswhotookcareoftheirvirtueinordertobeableto huntthem.Doyou
remember?Andtheratcatcherswithpipes?Everybodywasfightingovertheir
services.Buttheywerefinishedoffbyalchemistsandtheireffectivepoisons
and then domesticated ferrets and weasels.The little animalswere cheaper,
niceranddidn’tguzzlesomuchbeer.Noticetheanalogy?”
“Ido.”
“So use other people’s experiences.The unicorn virgins,when they lost
theirjobs,immediatelypoppedtheircherry.Some,eagertomakeupforthe
yearsofsacrifice,becamefamousfarandwidefortheirtechniqueandzeal.
Theratcatchers…Well,you’dbetternotcopythem,becausethey,toaman,
tooktodrinkandwenttothedogs.Well,nowitlooksasifthetime’scome
forwitchers. You’rereadingRoderickdeNovembre?As farasI remember,
therearementionsofwitchersthere,ofthefirstoneswhostartedworksome
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threehundredyearsago.Inthedayswhenthepeasantsusedtogotoreapthe
harvestinarmedbands,whenvillagesweresurroundedbyatriplestockade,
whenmerchantcaravanslookedlikethemarchofregulartroops,andloaded
catapults stood on the ramparts of the few towns night and day. Because it
wasus,humanbeings,whoweretheintrudershere.Thislandwasruledby
dragons, manticores, griffins and amphisboenas, vampires and werewolves,
striga, kikimoras, chimeraand flying drakes. And this land had tobe taken
from them bit by bit, every valley, every mountain pass, every forest and
every meadow. And we didn’t manage that without the invaluable help of
witchers. But those times have gone, Geralt, irrevocably gone. The baron
won’t allow a fork-tail to be killed because it’s the last draconid for a
thousandmilesandnolongergivesrisetofearbutrathertocompassionand
nostalgia for times passed. The troll under the bridge gets on with people.
He’snotamonsterusedtofrightenchildren.He’sarelicandalocalattraction
—andausefuloneatthat.Andchimera,manticoresandamphisboenas?They
dwellinvirginforestsandinaccessiblemountains—”
“SoIwasright.Something is coming to anend.Whetheryoulikeitor
not,something’scomingtoanend.”
“Idon’tlikeyoumouthingbanalplatitudes.Idon’tlikeyourexpression
whenyoudoit.What’shappeningtoyou?Idon’trecognizeyou,Geralt.Ah,
plague on it, let’s go south assoon as possible,to those wild countries. As
soonasyou’vecutdownacoupleofmonsters,yourblueswilldisappear.And
there’ssupposedtobeafairnumberofmonstersdownthere.They saythat
when an old woman’s tired of life, she goes alone and weaponless into the
woods to collect brushwood. The consequences are guaranteed. You should
goandsettlethereforgood.”
“MaybeIshould.ButIwon’t.”
“Why?It’seasierforawitchertomakemoneythere.”
“Easiertomakemoney.”Geralttookasipfromthedemijohn.“Butharder
tospendit.Andontopofthat,theyeatpearlbarleyandmillet,thebeertastes
likepiss,thegirlsdon’twashandthemosquitoesbite.”
Dandilionchuckled loudlyandrested hisheadagainst thebookshelf,on
theleather-boundvolumes.
“Milletandmosquitoes!Thatremindsmeofourfirstexpeditiontogether
totheedgeoftheworld,”hesaid.“Doyouremember?Wemetatthefêtein
Guletandyoupersuadedme—”
“You persuaded me! You had to flee from Gulet as fast as your horse
could carry you because the girl you’d knocked up under the musicians’
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podium had four sturdy brothers. Theywere lookingfor you allover town,
threateningtogeldyouandcoveryouinpitchandsawdust.That’swhyyou
hungontomethen.”
“Andyoualmostjumpedoutofyourpantswithjoytohaveacompanion.
Untilthen,youonlyhadyourhorseforcompany.Butyou’reright;itwasas
yousay.Ididhavetodisappearforawhile,andtheValleyofFlowersseemed
just right for my purpose. It was, after all, supposed to be the edge of the
inhabited world, the last outpost of civilization, the furthest point on the
borderoftwoworlds…Remember?”
“Iremember.”
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THEEDGEOFTHEWORLD
160
I
Dandilion came down the steps of the inn carefully, carrying two tankards
drippingwithfroth.Cursingunderhisbreath,hesqueezedthroughagroupof
curiouschildrenandcrossedtheyardatadiagonal,avoidingthecowpats.
A number of villagers had already gathered round the table in the
courtyard where the witcher was talking to the alderman. The poet set the
tankards down and found a seat. He realized straight away that the
conversationhadn’tadvancedajotduringhisshortabsence.
“I’mawitcher,sir,”Geraltrepeatedfortheumpteenthtime,wipingbeer
frothfromhislips.“Idon’tsellanything.Idon’tgoaroundenlistingmenfor
thearmyandIdon’tknowhowtotreatglanders.I’mawitcher.”
“It’s a profession,” explained Dandilion yet again. “A witcher, do you
understand?Hekillsstrigasandspecters.Heexterminatesallsortsofvermin.
Professionally,formoney.Doyougetit,alderman?”
“Aha!”Thealderman’sbrow,deeplyfurrowedinthought,grewsmoother.
“Awitcher!Youshouldhavesaidsorightaway!”
“Exactly,” agreed Geralt. “So nowI’ll ask you:is there anywork to be
foundaroundhereforme?”
“Aaaa.”Thealdermanquitevisiblystartedtothinkagain.“Work?Maybe
those… Well… werethings? You’re asking are there any werethings
hereabouts?”
The witcher smiled and nodded, rubbing an itching eyelid with his
knuckles.
“Thatthereare,”thealdermanconcludedafterafairwhile.“Onlylookye
yonder, see ye those mountains? There’s elves live there; that there is their
kingdom.Theirpalaces,hearye,areallofpuregold.Ohaye,sir!Elves,Itell
ye.‘Tisawful.Hewhoyondergoes,neverreturns.”
“Ithoughtso,”saidGeraltcoldly.“WhichispreciselywhyIdon’tintend
goingthere.”
Dandilionchuckledimpudently.
Thealdermanponderedalongwhile,justasGeralthadexpected.
“Aha,”hesaidatlast.“Well,aye.Buttherebeotherwerethingsheretoo.
Fromthelandofelvestheycome,tobesure.Oh,sir,therebemany,many.
‘Tishardto countthemall.Buttheworst,that betheBane,amI right,my
goodmen?”
The“goodmen”cametolifeandbesiegedthetablefromallsides.
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“Bane!” said one. “Aye, aye, ‘tis true what the alderman says. A pale
virgin,shewalksthecottagesatdaybreak,andthechildren,theydie!”
“Andimps,”addedanother,asoldierfromthewatchtower.“Theytangle
upthehorses’manesinthestables!”
“Andbats!Therebebatshere!”
“Andmyriapodans!Youcomeupallinspotsbecauseofthem!”
Thenext fewminutespassed inarecitalofthemonsterswhichplagued
the local peasants with their dishonorable doings, or their simpleexistence.
Geralt and Dandilion learned of misguids and mamunes, which prevent an
honestpeasantfromfindinghiswayhomeinadrunkenstupor,oftheflying
drakewhichdrinksmilkfromcows,oftheheadonspiderslegswhichruns
aroundintheforest,ofhoboldswhichwearredhatsandaboutadangerous
pike which tears linen from women’s hands as they wash it—and just you
waitandit’llbeatthewomenthemselves.Theyweren’tsparedhearingthat
oldNantheHagfliesonabroomatnightandperformsabortionsintheday,
thatthemillertamperswiththeflourbymixingitwithpowderedacornsand
thatacertainDudabelievedtheroyalstewardtobeathiefandscoundrel.
Geraltlistenedtoallthiscalmly,noddingwithfeignedinterest,andasked
a few questions about theroads andlayoutof the land, after whichhe rose
andnoddedtoDandilion.
“Well,takecare,mygoodpeople,”hesaid.“I’llbebacksoon;thenwe’ll
seewhatcanbedone.”
Theyrodeawayinsilencealongsidethecottagesandfences,accompanied
byyappingdogsandscreamingchildren.
“Geralt,”saidDandilion,standinginthestirrupstopickafineapplefrom
a branch which stretched over the orchard fence, “all the way you’ve been
complainingaboutitbeingharderandhardertofind work.YetfromwhatI
just heard, it looks as if you could work here without break until winter.
You’d make a penny or two, and I’d have some beautiful subjects for my
ballads.Soexplainwhywe’reridingon.”
“Iwouldn’tmakeapenny,Dandilion.”
“Why?”
“Becausetherewasn’tawordoftruthinwhattheysaid.”
“Ibegyourpardon?”
“Noneofthecreaturestheymentionedexist.”
“You’rejoking!”Dandilionspatoutapip and threw the apple core at a
patchedmongrel.“No,it’simpossible.Iwaswatchingthemcarefully,andI
knowpeople.Theyweren’tlying.”
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“No,”thewitcheragreed.“Theyweren’tlying.Theyfirmlybelieveditall.
Whichdoesn’tchangethefacts.”
Thepoetwassilentforawhile.
“None of those monsters… None? It can’t be. Something of what they
listedmustbehere.Atleastone!Admitit.”
“Allright.Iadmitit.Onedoesexistforsure.”
“Ha!What?”
“Abat.”
They rode out beyond the last fences, on to a highway between beds
yellowwithoilseedandcornfieldsrollinginthewind.Loadedcartstraveled
past them in the opposite direction. The bard pulled his leg over the
saddlebow,restedhisluteonhiskneeandstrummednostalgictunes,waving
fromtimetotimeatthegiggling,scantilycladgirlswanderingalongthesides
oftheroadcarryingrakesontheirrobustshoulders.
“Geralt,”hesaidsuddenly,“butmonstersdoexist.Maybenotasmanyas
before, maybe they don’t lurk behind every tree in the forest, but they are
there. They exist. So how do you account for people inventing ones, then?
What’s more, believing in what they invent? Eh, famous witcher? Haven’t
youwonderedwhy?”
“Ihave,famouspoet.AndIknowwhy.”
“I’mcurious.”
“People”—Geralt turned his head—“like to invent monsters and
monstrosities. Then they seem less monstrous themselves. When they get
blind-drunk, cheat, steal, beat theirwives, starve an old woman, when they
killatrappedfoxwithanaxeorriddlethelastexistingunicornwitharrows,
they like to think that the Bane entering cottages at daybreak is more
monstrousthantheyare.Theyfeelbetterthen.Theyfinditeasiertolive.”
“I’llremember that,”saidDandilion, afteramoment’ssilence. “I’llfind
somerhymesandcomposeaballadaboutit.”
“Do.Butdon’texpectagreatapplause.”
Theyrodeslowlybutlostthelastcottagesofthehamletfromsight.Soon
theyhadclimbedtherowofforestedhills.
“Ha.”Dandilionhaltedhishorseandlookedaround.“Look,Geralt.Isn’t
itbeautifulhere?Idyllic,damnit.Afeastfortheeyes!”
Thelandslopedgentlydowntoamosaicofflat,evenfieldspickedoutin
variouslycoloredcrops.Inthemiddle,roundandregularlikealeafofclover,
sparkled the deep waters of three lakes surrounded by dark strips of alder
thickets. The horizon was traced by a misty blue line of mountains rising
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abovetheblack,shapelessstretchofforest.
“We’reridingon,Dandilion.”
Theroadledstraighttowardthelakesalongsidedykesandpondshidden
by alder trees and filled with quacking mallards, garganeys, herons and
grebes.Therichnessofbirdlifewassurprisingalongsidethesignsofhuman
activity—the dykes were well maintained and covered with fascines, while
thesluicegateshadbeenreinforcedwithstonesandbeams.Theoutletboxes,
which were not in the least rotten, trickled merrily with water. Canoes and
jettieswerevisibleinthereedsbythelakesandbarsofsetnetsandfish-pots
werepokingoutofthedeepwaters.
Dandilionsuddenlylookedaround.
“Someone’sfollowingus,”hesaid,excited.“Inacart!”
“Incredible,”scoffedthewitcherwithoutlookingaround.“Inacart?And
Ithoughtthatthelocalsrodeonbats.”
“Doyouknowwhat?”growledthetroubadour.“Thecloserwegettothe
edgeoftheworld,thesharperyourwit.Idreadtothinkwhatitwillcometo!”
Theyweren’tridingfastandtheemptycart,drawnbytwopiebaldhorses,
quicklycaughtupwiththem.
“Woooooaaaaahhhh!”Thedriverbroughtthehorsestoahaltjustbehind
them. He was wearing a sheepskin over his bare skin and his hair reached
downtohisbrows.“Thegodsbepraised,noblesirs!”
“We,too,”repliedDandilion,familiarwiththecustom,“praisethem.”
“Ifwewantto,”murmuredthewitcher.
“IcallmyselfNettly,”announcedthecarter.“Iwaswatchingyespeakto
thealdermanatUpperPosada.Iknowyetaebeawitcher.”
Geraltletgoofthereinsandlethismaresnortattheroadsidenettles.
“Ididhear,”Nettlycontinued,“thealdermanprattleyestories.Imarked
your expression and ‘twas nae strange to me. In a long time now I’ve nae
heardsuchbalderdashandlies.”
Dandilionlaughed.
Geraltwaslookingatthepeasantattentively,silently.
Nettlyclearedhisthroat.“Careyenaetobehiredforreal,properwork,
sir?”heasked.“There’dbesomethingIhaveforye.”
“Andwhatisthat?”
Nettlydidn’tlowerhiseyes.“Itbenaegoodtospeakofbusinessonthe
road. Let us drive on to my home, to Lower Posada. There we’ll speak.
Anyways,‘tisthatwayyebeheading.”
“Whyareyousosure?”
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“As‘cosyehavenaeotherwayhere,andyerhorses’nosesbeturnedin
thatdirection,nottheirbutts.”
Dandilionlaughedagain.“Whatdoyousaytothat,Geralt?”
“Nothing,”saidthewitcher.“It’snogoodtotalkontheroad.Onourway,
then,honorableNettly.”
“Tie ye thehorsestotheframe,and sit yerselves down in thecart,”the
peasantproposed.“Itbemorecomfortableforye.Whyrackyerarsesonthe
saddle?”
“Tootrue.”
Theyclimbedontothecart.Thewitcherstretchedoutcomfortablyonthe
straw.Dandilion,evidentlyafraidofgettinghiselegantgreenjerkindirty,sat
ontheplank.Nettlycluckedhistongueatthehorsesandthevehicleclattered
alongthebeam-reinforceddyke.
They crossed a bridge over a canal overgrown with water lilies and
duckweed,andpassedastripofcutmeadows.Cultivatedfieldsstretchedas
farastheeyecouldsee.
“It’shardtobelievethatthisshouldbetheedgeoftheworld,theedgeof
civilization,”saidDandilion.“Justlook,Geralt.Ryelikegold,andamounted
peasantcouldhideinthatcorn.Orthatoilseed,look,howenormous.”
“Youknowaboutagriculture?”
“We poets have to know about everything,” said Dandilion haughtily.
“Otherwise we’d compromise our work. One has to learn, my dear fellow,
learn. The fate of the world depends on agriculture, so it’s good to know
about it. Agriculture feeds, clothes, protects from the cold, provides
entertainmentandsupportsart.”
“You’veexaggeratedabitwiththeentertainmentandart.”
“Andbooze,what’sthatmadeof?”
“Igetit.”
“Notverymuch,youdon’t.Learn.Lookatthosepurpleflowers.They’re
lupins.”
“They’s be vetch, to be true,” interrupted Nettly. “Have ye nae seen
lupins,orwhat? Butyehavehitexact withonething,sir.Everythingseeds
mightilyhere,andgrowsastomaketheheartsing.Thatbewhy‘tiscalledthe
ValleyofFlowers.Thatbewhyourforefatherssettledhere,firstriddingthe
landoftheelves.”
“The Valley of Flowers, that’s Dol Blathanna.” Dandilion nudged the
witcher, who was stretched out on the straw, with his elbow. “You paying
attention?Theelveshavegonebuttheirnameremains.Lackofimagination.
165
Andhowdoyougetonwiththeelveshere,dearhost?You’vegottheminthe
mountainsacrossthepath,afterall.”
“Wenaemixwitheachother.Eachtohisown.”
“Thebestsolution,”saidthepoet.“Isn’tthatright,Geralt?”
Thewitcherdidn’treply.
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II
“Thankyouforthespread.”Geraltlickedthebonespooncleananddroppedit
intotheemptybowl.“Ahundredthanks,dearhost.Andnow,ifyoupermit,
we’llgetdowntobusiness.”
“Well,thatwecan,”agreedNettly.“Whatsayye,Dhun?”
Dhun,theelderofLowerPosada,ahugemanwithagloomyexpression,
noddedtothegirlswhoswiftlyremovedthedishesfromthetableandleftthe
room,totheobviousregretofDandilionwhohadbeengrinningatthemever
sincethefeastbegan,andmakingthemgiggleathisgrossjokes.
“I’m listening,” said Geralt, looking at the window from where the
rappingofanaxeandthesoundofasawdrifted.Somesortofwoodworkwas
goingonintheyardandthesharp,resinoussmellwaspenetratingtheroom.
“TellmehowIcanbeofusetoyou.”
NettlyglancedatDhun.
The elder of the village nodded and cleared his throat. “Well, it be like
this,”hesaid.“Therebethisfieldhereabouts—”
GeraltkickedDandilion—whowaspreparingtomakeaspitefulcomment
—underthetable.
“—afield,” continuedDhun.“Be Iright,Nettly?A longtime,thatfield
there, it lay fallow, but we set it to the plough and now, ‘tis on it we sow
hemp,hopsandflax.Itbeagrandpieceoffield,Itellye.Stretchesrightupto
theforest—”
“Andwhat?”Thepoetcouldn’thelphimself.“What’sonthatfieldthere?”
“Well.”Dhunraisedhisheadandscratchedhimselfbehindtheear.“Well,
therebeadeovelprowlsthere.”
“What?”snortedDandilion.“Awhat?”
“Itellye:adeovel.”
“Whatdeovel?”
“Whatcanhebe?Adeovelandthatbeit.”
“Devilsdon’texist!”
“Don’t interrupt, Dandilion,” said Geralt in a calm voice. “And go on,
honorableDhun.”
“Itellye:it’sadeovel.”
“Iheardyou.”Geraltcouldbeincrediblypatientwhenhechose.“Tellme,
whatdoeshelooklike, where did he come from,howdoeshebotheryou?
Onethingatatime,ifyouplease.”
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“Well”—Dhun raised his gnarled hand and started to count with great
difficulty, folding his fingers over, one at a time—“one thing at a time.
Forsooth,yebeawiseman.Well,itbelikethis.Helooks,sir,likeadeovel,
for all the world like a deovel. Where did he come from? Well, nowhere.
Crash,bang,wallopandtherewehavehim:adeovel.Andbotherus,forsooth
hedoesnaebotherusoverly.Therebetimesheevenhelps.”
“Helps?” cackled Dandilion, trying to remove a fly from his beer. “A
devil?”
“Don’tinterrupt,Dandilion.Carryon,Dhun,sir.Howdoeshehelpyou,
this,asyousay—”
“Deovel,” repeated the freeman with emphasis. “Well, this be how he
helps:hefertilizestheland,heturnsthesoil,hegetsridofthemoles,scares
birds away, watches over the turnips and beetroots. Oh, and he eats the
caterpillarshedoes,theyas do hatch in the cabbages. But the cabbages, he
eats them too, forsooth. Nothing but guzzle, be what he does. Just like a
deovel.”
Dandilioncackledagain,thenflickedabeer-drenchedflyatacatsleeping
bythehearth.Thecatopenedoneeyeandglancedatthebardreproachfully.
“Nevertheless,” the witcher saidcalmly, “you’re readyto pay meto get
ridofhim,amIright?Inotherwords,youdon’twanthiminthevicinity?”
“And who”—Dhun looked at him gloomily—“would care to have a
deovelonhisbirthrightsoil?Thisbeourlandsinceforever,bestoweduponus
by the king and it has nought to do with the deovel. We spit on his help.
We’vegot handsourselves,havewenot?Andhe,sir, isnay adeovelbuta
maliciousbeastandhasgotsomuch,forgivetheword,shiteinhisheadasbe
hard to bear. There be no knowing what will come into his head. Once he
fouledthewell,thenchasedalass,frighteningandthreateningtofuckher.He
steals,sir,ourbelongingsandvictuals.Hedestroysandbreaksthings,makes
a nuisance of himself, churns the dykes, digs ditches like some muskrat or
beaver—thewaterfromonepondtrickledoutcompletelyand the carp in it
died.Hesmokedapipeinthehaystackhedid,theson-of-a-whore,andallthe
hayitwentupinsmoke—”
“Isee,”interruptedGeralt.“Sohedoesbotheryou.”
“Nay.”Dhunshookhishead.“Hedoesnaebotherus.Hebesimplyupto
mischief,that’swhathebe.”
Dandilionturnedtothewindow,mufflinghislaughter.
Thewitcherkeptsilent.
“Oh,whatbetheretotalk about,” said Nettly who had been silent until
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then.“Yebeawitcher,nae?Sodoyesomethingaboutthisdeovel.Itbework
yebelookingforinUpperPosada.Iheardsomyself.Soyehavework.We’ll
payyewhatneedsbe.Buttakenote:wedon’twantyekillingthedeovel.No
way.”
The witcher raised his head and smiled nastily. “Interesting,” he said.
“Unusual,I’dsay.”
“What?”Dhunfrowned.
“Anunusualcondition.Whyallthismercy?”
“He should nae be killed.” Dhun frowned even more. “Because in this
Valley—”
“Heshouldnaeandthatbeit,”interruptedNettly.“Onlycatchhim,sir,or
drivehimoffyono’ertheseventhmountain.Andyewillnaebeharddoneby
whenyebepaid.”
Thewitcherstayedsilent,stillsmiling.
“Sealit,willye,thedeal?”askedDhun.
“First,I’dlikealookathim,thisdevilofyours.”
Thefreemenglancedateachother.
“Itbeyerright,”saidNettly,thenstoodup.“Andyerwill.Thedeovelhe
doprowlthewholeneighborhoodatnightbutatdayhedwellssomewherein
thehemp.Oramongtheoldwillowsonthemarshland.Yecantakealookat
him there. We won’t hasten ye. Ye be wanting rest, then rest as long as ye
will. Ye will nae go wanting in comfort and food as befits the custom of
hospitality.Takecare.”
“Geralt.”Dandilionjoltedupfromhisstoolandlookedoutintotheyard
atthefreemenwalkingawayfromthecottage.“I can’tunderstandanything
anymore.Adayhasn’tgonebysinceourchataboutimaginedmonstersand
you suddenly get yourself hired hunting devils. And everybody—except
ignorant freemen obviously—knows that devils are an invention; they’re
mythicalcreatures.What’sthisunexpectedzealofyourssupposedtomean?
KnowingyoualittleasIdo,Itakeityouhaven’tabasedyourselfsoastoget
usbed,boardandlodging,haveyou?”
“Indeed.” Geralt grimaced. “It does look as if you know me a little,
singer.”
“Inthatcase,Idon’tunderstand.”
“Whatistheretounderstand?”
“There’snosuchthingsasdevils!”yelledthepoet,shakingthecatfrom
sleep once and for all. “No such thing! To the devil with it, devils don’t
exist!”
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“True.”Geraltsmiled.“But,Dandilion,Icouldneverresistthetemptation
ofhavingalookatsomethingthatdoesn’texist.”
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III
“One thing is certain,” muttered the witcher, sweeping his eyes over the
tangledjungleofhempspreadingbeforethem.“Thisdevilisnotstupid.”
“Howdidyoudeducethat?”Dandilionwascurious.“Fromthefact that
he’s sittingin an impenetrablethicket? Any old hare has enough brains for
that.”
“It’saquestionofthespecialqualitiesofhemp.Afieldofthissizeemitsa
strongauraagainstmagic.Mostspellswillbeuselesshere.Andthere,look,
doyouseethosepoles?Thosearehops—theirpollenhasthesameeffect.It’s
notmerechance.Therascalsensestheauraandknowshe’ssafehere.”
Dandilioncoughedandadjustedhisbreeches.“I’mcurious.”Hescratched
hisforeheadbeneathhishat.“Howareyougoingtogoaboutit,Geralt?I’ve
neverseenyouwork.Itakeityouknowathingortwoaboutcatchingdevils
—I’m trying to recall some ballads. There was one about a devil and a
woman.Rude,butamusing.Thewoman,yousee—”
“Spareme,Dandilion.”
“Asyouwish.Ionlywantedtobehelpful,that’sall.Andyoushouldn’t
scornancientsongs.There’swisdominthem,accumulatedovergenerations.
There’saballadaboutafarmhandcalledSlow,who—”
“Stopwittering.Wehavetoearnourboardandlodging.”
“Whatdoyouwanttodo?”
“Rummagearoundabitinthehemp.”
“That’soriginal,”snortedthetroubadour.“Thoughnottoorefined.”
“Andyou,howwouldyougoaboutit?”
“Intelligently.” Dandilion sniffed. “Craftily. With a hounding, for
example.I’dchasethedeviloutofthethicket,chasehimonhorseback,inthe
openfield,andlassohim.Whatdoyouthinkofthat?”
“Interesting. Who knows, maybe it could be done, if you took part—
becauseatleasttwoofusareneededforanenterpriselikethat.Butwe’renot
goinghuntingyet.Iwanttofindoutwhatthisthingis,thisdevil.That’swhy
I’mgoingtorummageaboutinthehemp.”
“Hey!” The bard had only just noticed. “You haven’t brought your
sword!”
“Whatfor?Iknowsomeballadsaboutdevils,too.Neitherthewomannor
Slowthefarmhandusedasword.”
“Hmm…”Dandilionlookedaround.“Dowehavetosqueezethroughthe
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verymiddleofthisthicket?”
“Youdon’thaveto.Youcangobacktothevillageandwaitforme.”
“Oh,no,”protestedthepoet.“Andmissachancelikethis?Iwanttoseea
deviltoo,seeifhe’sasterribleastheyclaim.Iwasaskingifwehavetoforce
ourwaythroughthehempwhenthere’sapath.”
“Quiteright.”Geraltshadedhiseyeswithhishand.“Thereisapath.So
let’suseit.”
“Andwhatifit’sthedevil’spath?”
“Allthebetter.Wewon’thavetowalktoofar.”
“Doyouknow,Geralt,”babbledthebard,followingthewitcheralongthe
narrow,unevenpathamongthehemp.“Ialwaysthoughtthedevilwasjusta
metaphorinventedforcursing:‘gotothedevil’,‘tothedevilwithit’,‘may
thedevil.’Lowlanderssay:‘Thedevilsarebringingusguests,’whiledwarves
have‘Duvvelhoael’whentheygetsomethingwrong,andcallpoor-blooded
livestockdevvelsheyss.AndintheOldLanguage,there’sasaying,‘Ad’yaebl
aeparse,’whichmeans—”
“Iknowwhatitmeans.You’rebabbling,Dandilion.”
Dandilion stopped talking, took off the hat decorated with a heron’s
feather,fannedhimselfwithitandwipedhissweatybrow.Thehumid,stifling
heat,intensifiedbythesmellofgrassandweedsinblossom, dominatedthe
thicket.Thepathcurvedalittleand,justbeyondthebend,endedinasmall
clearingwhichhadbeenstampedintheweeds.
“Look,Dandilion.”
In the very centerof the clearing lay alarge,flat stone, and onit stood
several clay bowls. An almost burnt-out tallow candle was set among the
bowls. Geralt saw some grains of corn and broad beans among the
unrecognizablepipsandseedsstuckintheflakesofmeltedfat.
“AsIsuspected,”hemuttered.“They’rebringinghimofferings.”
“That’s just it,” said the poet, indicating the candle. “And they burn a
tallowcandleforthedevil.Butthey’refeedinghimseeds,Isee,asifhewere
afinch.Plague,whatabloodypigsty.Everythinghereisallstickywithhoney
andbirchtar.What—“Thebard’snextwordsweredrownedbyaloud,sinister
bleating. Something rustled and stamped in the hemp; then the strangest
creatureGeralthadeverseenemergedfromthethicket.
Thecreaturewasabouthalfarodtallwithbulgingeyesandagoat’shorns
andbeard.Themouth,asoft,busyslit,alsobroughtachewinggoattomind.
Itsnetherregionswerecoveredwithlong,thick,dark-redhairrightdownto
theclefthooves.Thedevilhadalongtailendinginabrush-liketasselwhich
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waggedenergetically.
“Uk!Uk!”barkedthemonster,stampinghishooves.“Whatdoyouwant
here?Leave!LeaveorI’llramyoudown.Uk!Uk!”
“Hasanyoneeverkickedyourarse,littlegoat?”Dandilioncouldn’tstop
himself.
“Uk! Uk! Beeeeee!” bleated the goathorn in agreement, or denial, or
simplybleatingforthesakeofit.
“Shutup,Dandilion,”growledthewitcher.“Notaword.”
“Blebleblebeeeee!”Thecreaturegurgledfuriously,hislipspartingwideto
exposeyellowhorse-liketeeth.“Uk!Uk!Bleubeeeeubleuuuuubleeeeeeee!”
“Mostcertainly”—noddedDandilion—“youcantakethebarrel-organand
bellwhenyougohome—”
“Stop it, damnyou,” hissed Geralt. “Keepyour stupid jokesto yourself
—”
“Jokes!” roared the goathorn loudly and leapt up. “Jokes? New jokers
havecome,have they? They’vebroughtironballs, have they?I’llgiveyou
ironballs,youscoundrels,you.Uk!Uk!Uk!Youwanttojoke,doyou?Here
aresomejokesforyou!Hereareyourballs!”
Thecreaturesprangupandgaveasuddenswipewithhishand.Dandilion
howled and sat down hard on the path, clasping his forehead. The creature
bleatedandaimedagain.SomethingwhizzedpastGeralt’sear.
“Hereareyourballs!Brrreee!”
An iron ball, an inch in diameter, thwacked the witcher in the shoulder
andthenexthitDandilionintheknee.Thepoetcursedfoullyandscrambled
away,Geraltrunningafterhimasballswhizzedabovehishead.
“Uk! Uk!” screamed the goathorn, leaping up and down. “I’ll give you
balls!Youshittyjokers!”
Anotherballwhizzedthroughtheair.Dandilioncursedevenmorefoully
ashegrabbedthebackofhishead.Geraltthrewhimselftooneside,among
thehemp,butdidn’tavoidtheballthathithimintheshoulder.Thegoathorn’s
aimwastrueandheappearedtohaveanendlesssupplyofballs.Thewitcher,
stumbling through the thicket, heard yet another triumphant bleat from the
victoriousgoathorn,followedbythewhistleofaflyingball,acurseandthe
patterofDandilion’sfeetscurryingawayalongthepath.
Andthensilencefell.
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174
IV
“Well,well,Geralt.”Dandilionheldahorseshoehe’dcooledinabucketto
hisforehead.“That’snotwhatIexpected.Ahornedfreakwithagoateelikea
shaggybillygoat,andhechasedyouawaylikesomeupstart.AndIgotitin
thehead.Lookatthatbump!”
“That’sthesixthtimeyou’veshownittome.Andit’snomoreinteresting
nowthanitwasthefirsttime.”
“Howcharming.AndIthoughtI’dbesafewithyou!”
“Ididn’taskyoutotraipseaftermeinthehemp,andIdidaskyoutokeep
thatfoul tongueofyoursquiet.Youdidn’tlisten, sonowyoucansuffer.In
silence,please,becausethey’rejustcoming.”
NettlyandDhunwalkedintothedayroom.Behindthemhobbledagray-
hairedoldwoman,twistedasapretzel,ledbyafair-hairedandpainfullythin
teenagegirl.
“Honorable Dhun, honorable Nettly,” the witcher began without
introduction.“Iaskedyou,beforeIleft,whetheryouyourselveshadalready
triedtodosomethingwiththatdevilofyours.Youtoldmeyouhadn’t*done
anything.I’vegroundstothinkotherwise.Iawaityourexplanation.”
The villagers murmured among themselves, after which Dhun coughed
intohisfistandtookastepforward.“Yeberight,sir.Askingforgiveness.We
lied—it be guilt devours us. We wanted to outwit the deovel ourselves, for
himtogoaway—”
“Bywhatmeans?”
“Here in this Valley,” said Dhun slowly, “therebe monsters inthe past.
Flying dragons, earth myriapodans, were-brawls, ghosts, gigantous spiders
andvariousvipers.Andallthetimeswebesearchinginourgreatbookefora
waytodealwithallthatvermin.”
“Whatgreatbook?”
“Showthebooke,oldwoman.Booke,Isay.Thegreatbooke!I’llbeon
theboilinaminute!Deafasadoorknob,shebe!Lille,telltheoldwomanto
showthebooke!”
Thegirltorethehugebookfromthetalonedfingersoftheoldwomanand
handedittothewitcher.
“Inthisheregreatbooke,”continuedDhun,“whichbeinourfamilyclan
fortimeimmemorial,bewaystodealwitheverymonster,spellandwonderin
theworldthathasbeen,is,orwillbe.”
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Geraltturnedtheheavy,thick,greasy,dust-encrustedvolumeinhishands.
Thegirlwasstillstandinginfrontofhim,wringingheraproninherhands.
Shewasolderthanhehadinitiallythought—herdelicatefigurehaddeceived
him,sodifferentfromtherobustbuildoftheothergirlsinthevillage.
He lay the book down on thetable and turned its heavy wooden cover.
“Takealookatthis,Dandilion.”
“The first Runes,” the bard worked out, peering over his shoulder, the
horseshoestillpressedtohisforehead.“Thewritingusedbeforethemodern
alphabet.Stillbasedonelfinrunesanddwarves’ideograms.Afunnysentence
construction, but that’s how they spoke then. Interesting etchings and
illuminations.It’snotoftenyougettoseesomethinglikethis,Geralt,andif
youdo, it’s inlibrariesbelongingtotemplesandnotvillagesatthe edgeof
theworld.Byallthegods,wheredidyougetthatfrom,dearpeasants?Surely
you’renotgoingtotrytoconvincemethatyoucanreadthis?Woman?Can
youreadtheFirstRunes?Canyoureadanyrunes?”
“Whaaaat?”
Thefair-hairedgirlmovedclosertothewomanandwhisperedsomething
intoherear.
“Read?” The crony revealed her toothless gums in a smile. “Me? No,
sweetheart.‘TisaskillI’vene’ermastered.”
“Explaintome,”saidGeraltcoldly,turningtoDhunandNettly,“howdo
youusethebookifyoucan’treadrunes?”
“Alwaystheoldestwomanknowswhatstandswritteninthebooke,”said
Dhungloomily.“Andwhatsheknows,sheteachessomeyoungone,when‘tis
time for her to turn to earth. Heed ye, yerselves, how ‘tis time for our old
woman.SoouroldwomanhastakenLilleinandshebeteachingher.Butfor
now,‘tistheoldwomanknowsbest.”
“Theoldwitchandtheyoungwitch,”mutteredDandilion.
“The old woman knows the whole book by heart?” Geralt asked with
disbelief.“Isthatright,Grandma?”
“Naethewhole,ohnae,”answeredthewoman,againthroughLille,“only
whatstandswrittenbythepicture.”
“Ah.” Geralt opened the book at random. The picture on the torn page
depictedadappledpigwithhornsintheshapeofalyre.“Wellthen—what’s
writtenhere?”
Theoldwomansmackedherlips,tookacarefullookattheetching,then
shuthereyes.
“ThehornedaurochsorTaurus,”sherecited,“erroneouslycalledbisonby
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ignoramuses.Ithathhornsanduseththemtoram—”
“Enough. Very good, indeed.” The witcher turned several sticky pages.
“Andhere?”
“Cloud sprites and wind sprites be varied. Some rain pour, some wind
roar,andothershurltheirthunder.Harveststoprotectfromthem,takestthou
aknifeofiron,new,ofamouse’sdroppingsahalfounce,ofagrayheron’sfat
—”
“Good,welldone.Hmm…Andhere?What’sthis?”
The etching showed a disheveled monstrosity with enormous eyes and
even larger teeth, riding a horse. In its right hand, the monstrous being
wieldedasubstantialsword,initsleft,abagofmoney.
“A witchman,” mumbled the woman. “Called by some a witcher. To
summon him is most dangerous, albeit one must; for when against the
monster and the vermin there be no aid, the witchman can contrive. But
carefulonemustbe—”
“Enough,”mutteredGeralt.“Enough,Grandma.Thankyou.”
“No, no,” protested Dandilion with a malicious smile. “How does it go
on?Whatagreatlyinterestingbook!Goon,Granny,goon.”
“Eeee…Butcarefulonemustbetotouchnotthewitchman,forthusthe
mange can one acquire. And lasses do from him hide away, for lustful the
witchmanisaboveallmeasure—”
“Quite correct, spot on,” laughed the poet, and Lille, so it seemed to
Geralt,smiledalmostimperceptibly.
“—though the witchman greatly covetous and greedy for gold be,”
mumbled the old woman, half-closing her eyes, “giveth ye not such a one
more than: for a drowner, one silver penny or three halves; for a werecat,
silverpenniestwo;foraplumard,silverpennies—”
“Thosewerethedays,”mutteredthewitcher.“Thankyou,Grandma.And
now show us where it speaks of the devil and what the book says about
devils.Thistime‘tisgratefulI’dbetohearethmore,fortolearnthewaysand
meanesyedidusetodealwithhimmostcuriousamI.”
“Careful, Geralt,” chuckled Dandilion. “You’re starting to fallinto their
jargon.It’saninfectiousmannerism.”
Thewoman,controllinghershakinghandswithdifficulty,turnedseveral
pages. The witcher and the poet leaned over the table. The etching did, in
effect,showtheball-thrower:horned,hairy,tailedandsmilingmaliciously.
“Thedeovel,”recitedthewoman.“Alsocalled‘willoweror‘sylvan.’For
livestockanddomesticfowl,atiresomeandgreatpestishe.Beityourwillto
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chasehimfromyourhamlet,takestthou—”
“Well,well,”murmuredDandilion.
“—takest thou of nuts, one fistful,” continued the woman, running her
fingeralongtheparchment.“Next,takestthouofironballsasecondfistful.
Ofhoneyanutricle,ofbirchtarasecond.Ofgraysoapafirkin;ofsoftcheese
another. There where the deovel dwelleth, goest thou when ‘tis night.
Commenceththentoeatthenuts.Anon,thedeovelwhohathgreatgreed,will
hastenandaskiftheyaretastyindeed.Givesttohimthentheballsofiron—”
“Damnyou,”murmuredDandilion.“Poxtake—”
“Quiet,”saidGeralt.“Well,Grandma.Goon.”
“…havingbrokenhisteethhewillbeattentiveasthoueatestthehoney.
Ofsaid honey will he himself desire. Givest him ofbirch tar,thenyourself
eateth soft cheese. Soon, hearest thou, will the deovel grumbleth and
tumbleth, but makest of itasnaught. Yet ifthe deoveldesirethsoft cheese,
givesthimsoap.Forsoapthedeovelwithstandethnot—”
“Yougottothesoap?”interruptedGeraltwithastonyexpression,turning
towardDhunandNettly.
“Innoway,”groanedNettly.“Ifonlywehadgottotheballs.Buthegave
uswhatforwhenhebitaball—”
“And who told you to give him so many?” Dandilion was enraged. “It
standswritteninthebook,onefistfultotake.Yetyegavethofballsasackful!
Yefurnishedhimwithammunitionfortwoyears,thefoolsyebe!”
“Careful.” The witchersmiled. “You’re starting to fall into their jargon.
It’sinfectious.”
“Thankyou.”
Geralt suddenly raised his head and looked into the eyes of the girl
standing by the woman. Lille didn’t lower her eyes. They were pale and
wildlyblue.“Whyareyoubringingthedevilofferingsintheformofgrain?”
heaskedsharply.“Afterall,it’sobviousthathe’satypicalherbivore.”
Lilledidn’tanswer.
“I asked you a question, girl. Don’t be frightened, you won’t get the
mangebytalkingtome.”
“Don’t ask her anything, sir,” said Nettly, with obvious unease in his
voice.“Lille…She…Shebestrange.Shewon’tansweryou;don’tforceher.”
GeraltkeptlookingintoLille’seyes,andLillestillmethisgaze.Hefelta
shiverrundownhisbackandcreepalonghisshoulders.
“Why didn’t you attack the devil with stancheons and pitchforks.” He
raisedhisvoice.“Whydidn’tyousetatrapforhim?Ifyou’dwantedto,his
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goat’s headwouldalreadybe spiked onapoleto frightencrowsaway. You
warnedmenottokillhim.Why?Youforbadeit,didn’tyou,Lille?”
Dhungotupfromthebench.Hisheadalmosttouchedthebeams.
“Leave,lass,”hegrowled.“Taketheoldwomanandleave.”
“Whoisshe,honorableDhun?”thewitcherdemandedasthedoorclosed
behind Lille and the woman. “Who is that girl? Why does she enjoy more
respectfromyouthanthatbloodybook?”
“It be nae yer business.” Dhun looked at him, and there was no
friendliness in his eyes. “Persecute wise women in your own town, burn
stakesinyerownland.Therehasbeennoneofithere,norwilltherebe.”
“Youdidn’tunderstandme,”saidthewitchercoldly.
“BecauseIdidnaetry,”growledDhun.
“Pnoticed,”Geraltsaidthroughhisteeth,makingnoefforttobecordial.
“Butbesograciousastounderstandsomething,honorableDhun.Wehaveno
agreement. I haven’t committed myself to you in any way. You have no
reason to believe that you’ve bought yourself a witcher who, for a silver
pennyorthreehalves,willdowhatyoucan’tdoyourselves.Ordon’twantto
do.Oraren’tallowedto.No,honorableDhun.Youhavenotboughtyourselfa
witcher yet, and I don’t think you’ll succeed in doing so. Not with your
reluctancetounderstand.”
Dhunremainedsilent,measuringGeraltwithagloomystare.
Nettly cleared his throat and wriggled on the bench, shuffling his rag
sandalsonthedirtfloor,thensuddenlystraightenedup.
“Witcher,sir,”hesaid.“Donaebeenraged.Wewilltellye,whatandhow.
Dhun?”
Theelderofthevillagenoddedandsatdown.
“Asweberidinghere,”beganNettly,“yedidnoticehoweverythinghere
grows,thegreatharvestswehave?Therebenaemanyplacesyeseeallgrow
likethis,iftherebeanysuch.Seedlingsandseedsbesoimportanttousthat
‘tiswiththemwepayourleviesandwesellthemandusethemtobarter—”
“What’sthatgottodowiththedevil?”
“Thedeovelwaswonttomakeanuisanceofhimselfandplaysillytricks,
andthenhebestartingtostealagreatdealofgrain.Atthebeginning,webe
bringinghim a little to the stonein thehemp, thinkinghis fill he’deat and
leaveusinpeace.Naughtofit.Withavengeancehewentonstealing.And
when we started to hide our supplies in shops and sheds, well locked and
bolted,‘tisfurioushegrew,sir,heroared,bleated.‘Uk!Uk!’hecalled,and
whenhegoes‘Uk!Uk!’ye’ddobesttorunforyerlife.Hethreatenedto—”
179
“—screw,”Dandilionthrewinwitharibaldsmile.
“Thattoo,”agreedNettly.“Oh,andhementionedafire.Talklongaswe
may, he could nae steal so ‘tis levies he demanded. He ordered grain and
othergoodsbebroughthimbythesackful.Riledwewerethenandintending
tobeathistailedarse.But—”Thefreemanclearedhisthroatandloweredhis
head.
“Yeneednaebeataboutthebush,”saidDhunsuddenly.“Wejudgedthe
witcherwrong.Tellhimeverything,Nettly.”
“Theoldwoman forbade ustobeatthe devil,” saidNettlyquickly, “but
weknow‘tisLille,becausethewoman…Thewomanonly says what Lille
tellherto.Andwe…Yeknowyerself,sir.Welisten.”
“I’ve noticed.” Geralt twisted his lips ina smile.“The woman can only
waggleherchinandmumbleatextwhichshedoesn’tunderstandherself.And
you stare at the girl, with gaping mouths, as if she were the statue of a
goddess.Youavoidhereyesbuttrytoguessherwishes.Andherwishesare
yourcommand.WhoisthisLilleofyours?”
“Butyehaveguessedthat,sir.Aprophetess.AWiseOne.Butsaynaught
of this to anyone. We ask ye. If word were to get to the steward, or, gods
forbid,totheviceroy—”
“Don’tworry,”saidGeraltseriously.“IknowwhatthatmeansandIwon’t
betrayyou.”
The strange women and girls, called prophetesses or Wise Ones, who
could be found in villages, didn’t enjoy the favor of those noblemen who
collected levies and profited from farming. Farmers always consulted
prophetesses on everything and believed them, blindly and boundlessly.
Decisionsbasedontheiradvicewereoftencompletelycontrarytothepolitics
of lords and overlords. Geralt had heard of incomprehensible decrees—the
slaughterofentirepedigreeherds,thecessationofsowingorharvesting,and
even the migration of entire villages. Local lords therefore opposed the
superstition,oftenbrutally,andfreemenveryquicklylearnedtohidetheWise
Ones. But they didn’t stop listening to their advice. Because experience
provedtheWiseOneswerealwaysrightinthelongrun.
“Lilledidnotpermitustokillthedeovel,”continuedNettly.“Shetoldus
todowhatthebookesays.Asyewellknow,itdidnaeworkout.Therehas
alreadybeentroublewith the steward. If we givelessgraininlevythan be
normal, ‘tis bawl he will, shout and fulminate. Thus we have nay even
squeakedtohimofthedeovel,thereasonbeingthestewardberuthlessand
knowscruellylittleaboutjokes.Andthenyehappenedalong.WeaskedLille
180
ifwecould…hireye—”
“And?”
“She said, through the woman, that she need first of all to look at ye.”
“Andshedid.”
“Thatshedid.Andacceptedyeshehas,thatweknow.Wecantellwhat
Lilleacceptsandwhatshedoesnae.”
“Sheneversaidawordtome.”
“Shene’erhasspokenwordtoanyone—savetheoldwoman.Butifshe
hadnotacceptedye,shewouldnayhaveenteredtheroomforallintheworld
—”
“Hmm…”Geraltreflected.“That’sinteresting.Aprophetesswho,instead
ofprophesying,doesn’tsayaword.Howdidshecometobeamongyou?”
“Wenaeknow,witcher,sir,”mutteredDhun.“Butasfortheoldwoman,
sotheolderfolkremember,itbelikethis.Theoldwomanaforehertooka
close-tongued girl under her wing too, one as which came from no one
knows.And that girl she be our oldwoman. My grandfatherwould say the
oldwomanberebornthatway.Likethemoonsheberebornintheskyand
evernewshebe.Donaelaugh—”
“I’mnotlaughing.”Geraltshookhishead.“I’veseentoomuchtolaughat
thingslikethat.NordoIintendtopokemynoseintoyouraffairs,honorable
Dhun. My questions aim to establish the bond between Lille and the devil.
You’veprobablyrealizedyourselvesthatoneexists.Soifyou’reanxiousto
beongoodtermswithyourprophetess,thenIcangiveyouonlyonewayto
dealwiththedevil:youmustgettolikehim.”
“Knowye,sir,”saidNettly,“itbenaeonlyamatterofthedeovel.Lille
doesnaeletusharmanything.Anycreature.”
“Of course,” Dandilion butted in, “country prophetesses grow from the
sametreeasdruids.Andadruidwillgosofarastowishthegadflysucking
hisbloodtoenjoyitsmeal.”
“Yehitsitonthe head.”Nettlyfaintlysmiled.“Ye hitsthenail righton
thehead.‘Twasthesamewithusandthewildboarsthatdugupourvegetable
beds.Lookoutthewindow:bedsasprettyasapicture.Wehavefoundaway,
Lilledoesnaeevenknow.Whattheeyesdonaysee,theheartwillnaemiss.
Understand?”
“Iunderstand,”mutteredGeralt.“Andhow.Butwecan’tmoveforward.
LilleornoLille,yourdevilisasylvan.Anexceptionallyrarebutintelligent
creature.Iwon’tkillhim;mycodedoesn’tallowit.”
“Ifhebeintelligent,”saidDhun,“gospeakreasontohim.”
181
“Just so,” Nettly joined in. “If the deovel has brains, that will mean he
stealsgrainaccordingtoreason.Soye,witcher,findoutwhathewants.He
doesnaeeatthatgrain,afterall—notsomuch,atleast.Sowhatdoeshewant
grain for? To spite us? What does he want? Find out and chase him off in
somewitcherway.Willyedothat?”
“I’lltry,”decidedGeralt.“But…”
“Butwhat?”
“Yourbook,myfriends,isoutofdate.DoyouseewhatI’mgettingat?”
“Well,forsooth,”gruntedDhun,“notreally.”
“I’llexplain.HonorableDhun,honorableNettly,ifyou’recountingonmy
help costing you a silver penny or three halves, then you are bloody well
mistaken.”
182
V
“Hey!”
Arustle,anangryUk!Uk!andthesnappingofstakes,reachedthemfrom
thethicket.
“Hey!”repeatedthewitcher,prudentlyremaininghidden.“Showyourself,
willower.”
“Willoweryourself.”
“Sowhatisit?Devil?”
“Devil yourself.” The sylvan pokedhis headoutfrom the hemp, baring
histeeth.“Whatdoyouwant?”
“Totalk.”
“Areyoumakingfunofmeorwhat?DoyouthinkIdon’tknowwhoyou
are?Thepeasantshiredyoutothrowmeoutofhere,eh?”
“That’sright,”admittedGeraltindifferently.“Andthat’spreciselywhatI
wantedtochattoyouabout.Whatifweweretocometoanunderstanding?”
“That’swhereithurts,”bleatedthesylvan.“You’dliketogetofflightly,
wouldn’t you? Without making an effort, eh? Pull the other one! Life, my
goodman, meanscompetition.Thebestman wins.Ifyou wanttowin with
me,proveyou’rethebest.Insteadofcomingtoanunderstanding,we’llhave
competitions.Thewinnerdictatestheconditions.Iproposearacefromhere
totheoldwillowonthedyke.”
“Idon’tknowwherethedykeis,ortheoldwillow.”
“Iwouldn’tsuggesttheraceifyouknew.IlikecompetitionsbutIdon’t
likelosing.”
“I’venoticed.No,wewon’traceeachother.It’sveryhottoday.”
“Pity.Somaybewe’llpitourselvesagainsteachotherinadifferentway?”
The sylvan bared his yellow teeth and picked up a large stone from the
ground. “Do you know the game‘Who shoutsloudest?’ I shout first.Close
youreyes.”
“Ihaveadifferentproposition.”
“I’mallears.”
“Youleaveherewithoutanycompetitions,racesorshouting.Ofyourown
accord,withoutbeingforced.”
“You can shove such a proposition a d’yeabl aep arse.” The devil
demonstratedhisknowledgeoftheOldLanguage.“Iwon’tleavehere.Ilike
ithere.”
183
“Butyou’vemadetoomuchofanuisanceofyourselfhere.Yourpranks
havegonetoofar.”
Duvvelsheysstoyouwithmypranks.”Thesylvan,asitturnedout,also
knewthedwarves’tongue.“Andyourpropositionisalsoworthasmuchasa
duvvelsheyss. I’m not going anywhere unless you beat me at some game.
Shall I give you a chance? We’ll play at riddles if you don’t like physical
games.I’llgiveyouariddleinaminuteandifyouguess it,you winand I
leave.Ifyoudon’t,Istayandyouleave.Rackyourbrainsbecausetheriddle
isn’teasy.”
Before Geralt could protest, the sylvan bleated, stamped his hooves,
whippedthegroundwithhistailandrecited:
Itgrowsinsoftclay,notfarfromthestream,
Littlepinkleaves,podssmallandfull,
Itgrowsinsoftclay,notfarfromthestream,
Onalongstalk,itsflowerismoist,
Buttoacat,pleaseshowitnot,
’Cosifyoudo,he’lleatthelot.
“Well,whatisit?Guess.”
“Ihaven’tthefaintestidea,”thewitchersaid,noteventryingtothinkit
over.“Sweetpea,perhaps?”
“Wrong.Youlose.”
“And what is the correct answer? What has… hmm… moist pods?”
“Cabbage.”
“Listen,”growledGeralt.“You’restartingtogetonmynerves.”
“Iwarnedyou,”chuckledthesylvan,“thattheriddlewasn’teasy.Tough.I
won,Istay.Andyouleave.Iwishyou,sir,acoldfarewell.”
“Just a moment.” The witcher surreptitiously slipped a hand into his
pocket.“Andmyriddle?Ihavetherighttoarevengematch,haven’tI?”
“No!”protestedthedevil.“Imightnotguessit,afterall.Doyoutakeme
forafool?”
“No.” Geralt shook his head. “I take you for a spiteful, arrogant dope.
We’regoingtoplayquiteanewgameshortly,onewhichyoudon’tknow.”
“Ha!Afterall!Whatgame?”
“Thegameiscalled,”saidthewitcherslowly,“don’tdountootherswhat
youwouldnothavethemdotoyou.’Youdon’thavetocloseyoureyes.”
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Geralt stooped in a lightning throw; the one-inch iron ball whizzed
sharplythroughtheairandthwackedthesylvanstraightbetweenthehorns.
Thecreaturecollapsedontohisbackasifhitbyathunderbolt.Geraltdived
between the poles and grabbed him by one shaggy leg. The sylvan bleated
andkicked. Thewitchershelteredhishead withhisarm, buttolittleeffect.
Thesylvan,despitehismeanposture,kickedwiththestrengthofanenraged
mule. The witcher tried and failed to catch a kicking hoof. The sylvan
flapped, thrashed his hands on the ground and kicked him again in the
forehead. The witchercursed, feeling the sylvan’s leg slipfrom his fingers.
Both, having parted, rolled in opposite directions, kicked the poles with a
crashandtangledthemselvesupinthecreepinghemp.
The sylvan was the first to jump up, and, lowering his horned head,
charged.ButGeraltwasalreadyonhisfeetandeffortlesslydodgedtheattack,
grabbed the creature by a horn, tugged hard, threw him to the ground and
crushed him with his knees. The sylvan bleated and spat straight into the
witchers eyes like a camel suffering from excess saliva. The witcher
instinctively stepped back without releasing the devil’s horns. The sylvan,
tryingtotosshishead,kickedwithbothhoovesatonceand—strangely—hit
themarkwithboth.Geraltsworenastily,butdidn’treleasehisgrip.Hepulled
thesylvanup,pinnedhimtothecreakingpolesandkickedhiminashaggy
kneewithallhismight;thenheleanedoverandspatrightintohisear.The
sylvanhowledandsnappedhisbluntteeth.
“Don’tdountoothers…”pantedthewitcher,“…whatyouwouldnothave
them do to you. Shall we play on?” The sylvan gurgled, howled and spat
fiercely,butGeraltheldhimfirmlybythehornsandpressedhisheaddown
hard,makingthespittlehitthesylvan’sownhooves,whichtoreattheground,
sendingupcloudsofdustandweeds.
The next few minutes passed in an intense skirmish and exchange of
insults and kicks. If Geralt was pleased about anything, it was only that
nobodycouldseehim—foritwasatrulyridiculoussight.
The force of the next kick torethe combatants apart and threwthem in
opposite directions, into the hemp thicket. The sylvan got up before the
witcherandrushedtoescape,limpingsheavily.Geralt,pantingandwipinghis
brow,rushedinpursuit.Theyforcedtheirwaythroughthehempandraninto
thehops.Thewitcherheardthepoundingofagallopinghorse,thesoundhe’d
beenwaitingfor.
“Here,Dandilion!Here!”heyelled.“Inthehops!”
Hesawthemountbreastrightinfrontofhimandwasknockedover.He
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bounced off the horse as though it were a rock and tumbled onto his back.
Theworlddarkened.Hemanagedtorolltotheside,behindthehoppoles,to
avoid the hooves. He sprung up nimbly but another rider rode into him,
knockinghimdownagain.Thensuddenly,someonethrewthemselvesathim
andpinnedhimtotheground.
Thentherewasaflash,andapiercingpaininthebackofhishead.
Anddarkness.
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VI
Therewas sand onhislips. When hetriedto spititout,he realizedhewas
lyingfacedownontheground.Andhewastiedup.Heraisedhishead,alittle
andheardvoices.
Hewaslyingontheforestfloor,byapinetree.Sometwentypacesaway
stood unsaddled horses. They were obscured behind the feathery fronds of
ferns,butoneofthosehorseswas,withoutadoubt,Dandilion’schestnut.
“Threesacksofcorn,”heheard.“Good,Torque.Verygood.You’vedone
well.”
“That’snotall,” saidthebleating voice,whichcouldonlybe thesylvan
devil.“Lookatthis,Galarr.Itlookslikebeansbutit’scompletelywhite.And
thesizeofit!Andthis,thisiscalledoilseed.Theymakeoilfromit.”
Geralt squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them again. No, it wasn’t a
dream.ThedevilandGalarr,whoeverhewas,wereusingtheOldLanguage,
the language of elves. But the words corn, beans, and oilseed were in the
commontongue.
“Andthis?What’sthis?”askedGalarr.
“Flaxseed.Flax,youknow?Youmakeshirtsfromflax.It’smuchcheaper
thansilk,andmorehardwearing.It’squiteacomplicatedprocessasfarasI
knowbutI’llfindouttheinsandouts.”
“As long as it takes root, this flax of yours; as long as it doesn’t go to
wasteliketheturnip,”grumbledGalarr,inthesamestrangeVolapuk.“Tryto
getsomenewturnipseedlings,Torque.”
“Have no fear,” bleatedthe sylvan. “There’s noproblem with thathere.
Everythinggrowslikehell.I’llgetyousome,don’tworry.”
“Andonemorething,”saidGalarr.“Finallyfindoutwhatthatthree-field
systemoftheirsisallabout.”
Thewitchercarefullyraisedhisheadandtriedtoturnaround.
“Geralt…”Heheardawhisper.“Areyouawake?”
“Dandilion…” he whispered back. “Where are we…? What’s
happening?”
Dandiliononlygruntedquietly.Geralthadhadenough.Hecursed,tensed
himselfandturnedontohisside.
Inthemiddleofthegladestoodthesylvandevilwith—ashenowknew—
thesweetnameofTorque.Hewasbusyloadingsacks,bagsandpacksonto
thehorses.Hewasbeinghelpedbyaslim,tallmanwhocouldonlybeGalarr.
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Thelatter,hearingthewitchermove,turnedaround.Hishairwasblackwitha
distincthintofdarkblue.Hehadsharpfeatures,big,brighteyesandpointed
ears.
Galarrwasanelf.Anelffromthemountains.Apure-bloodedAenSeidhe,
arepresentativeoftheOldPeople.
Galarrwasn’talone.Sixmoresatattheedgeoftheglade.Onewasbusy
emptying Dandilion’s packs; another strummed the troubadours lute. The
remainder, gathered aroundan untied sack, weregreedily devouring turnips
andrawcarrots.
“Vanadain,Toruviel,” saidGalarr,indicatingtheprisonerswith anodof
hishead.“Vedrai!Enn’le!”
Torque jumped up and bleated. “No, Galarr! No! Filavandrel has
forbiddenit!Haveyouforgotten?”
“No,Ihaven’tforgotten.”Galarrthrewtwotiedsacksacrossthehorse’s
back.“Butwehavetocheckiftheyhaven’tloosenedtheknots.”
“Whatdoyouwantfromus?”thetroubadourmoanedasoneoftheelves
knockedhim to the ground with his knee andchecked the knots.“Why are
youholdingusprisoners?Whatdoyouwant?I’mDandilion,apoe—”
Geraltheardthesoundofablow.Heturnedaround,twistedhishead.
TheelfstandingoverDandilionhadblackeyesandravenhair,whichfell
luxuriantly over her shoulders, except for two thin plaits braided at her
temples.Shewaswearingashortleathercamisoleoveralooseshirtofgreen
satin, and tight woollen leggings tucked into riding boots. Her hips were
wrapped around with a colored shawl which reached halfway down her
thighs.
Queglosse?”sheasked,lookingatthewitcherandplayingwiththehilt
ofthelongdaggerinherbelt.“Quel’enpavienn,ell’ea?”
“Nell’ea,”hecontested.“T’enpavienn,AenSeidhe.”
“Didyouhear?”Theelfturnedtohercompanion,thetallSeidhewho,not
bothering to check Geralt’s knots, was strumming away at Dandilion’s lute
withanexpressionofindifferenceonhislongface.“Didyouhear,Vanadain?
Theape-mancantalk!Hecanevenbeimpertinent!”
Seidheshrugged,makingthefeathersdecoratinghisjacketrustle.“Allthe
morereasontogaghim,Toruviel.”
The elf leaned over Geralt. She had long lashes, an unnaturally pale
complexionandparched,crackedlips.Sheworeanecklaceofcarvedgolden
birchpiecesonathong,wrappedaroundherneckseveraltimes.
“Well, say something else, ape-man,” she hissed. “We’ll see what your
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throat,sousedtobarking,iscapableof.”
“What’sthis?Doyouneedanexcusetohitaboundman?”Thewitcher
turnedoveronhisbackwithaneffortandspatoutthesand.“Hitmewithout
anyexcuses.I’veseenhowyoulikeit.Letoffsomesteam.”
Theelfstraightened.“I’vealreadyletoffsomesteamonyou,whileyour
hands were free,” shesaid. “I rodeyou down and swipedyou on the head.
AndI’llalsofinishyouoffwhenthetimecomes.”
Hedidn’tanswer.
“I’d much rather stab you from close up, looking you in the eyes,”
continuedtheelf.“Butyoustinkmosthideously,human,soI’llshootyou.”
“Asyouwish.”Thewitchershrugged,asfarastheknotslethim.“Doas
youlike,nobleAenSeidhe.Youshouldn’tmissatied-up,motionlesstarget.”
Theelfstoodoverhim,legsspread,andleaneddown,flashingherteeth.
“No,Ishouldn’t,”shehissed.“IhitwhateverIwant.Butyoucanbesure
youwon’tdiefromthefirstarrow.Or thesecond.I’lltrytomakesureyou
canfeelyourselfdying.”
“Don’t come so close.” He grimaced, pretending to be repulsed. “You
stinkmosthideously,AenSeidhe.”
Theelfjumpedback,rockedonhernarrowhipsandforcefullykickedhim
inthe thigh.Geraltdrewhislegs inandcurled up,knowingwhereshewas
aiming next. He succeeded, and got her boot in the hip, so hard his teeth
rattled.
Thetallelfstandingnexttoherechoedeachkickwithasharpchordon
thelute.
“Leavehim,Toruviel!”bleatedthesylvan.“Haveyougonemad?Galarr,
tellhertostop!”
“Thaesse!” shrieked Toruviel, and kicked the witcher again. The tall
Seidhe tore so violently at the strings that one snapped with a protracted
whine.
“Enough of that! Enough, for gods’ sake!” Dandilion yelled fretfully,
wrigglingandtumblingintheropes.“Whyareyoubullyinghim,youstupid
whore?Leaveusalone!Andyouleavemylutealone,allright?”
Toruviel turned to him with an angry grimace on her cracked lips.
“Musician!”shegrowled.“Ahuman,yetamusician!Alutenist!”
Without a word, she pulled the instrument from the tall elfs hand,
forcefullysmashedtheluteagainstthepineandthrewtheremains,tangledin
thestrings,onDandilion’schest.
“Playonacow’shorn,yousavage,notalute.”
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Thepoetturnedaswhiteasdeath;hislipsquivered.Geralt,feelingcold
furyrisingupsomewherewithinhim,drewToruviel’seyeswithhisown.
“Whatareyoustaringat?”hissedtheelf,leaningover.“Filthyape-man!
Doyouwantmetogougeoutthoseinsecteyesofyours?”
Hernecklacehungdownjustabovehim.Thewitchertensed,lunged,and
caughtthenecklaceinhisteeth,tuggingpowerfully, curling his legs in and
turningonhisside.
Toruviellostherbalanceandfellontopofhim.
Geralt wriggled in the ropes like a fish, crushed the elf beneath him,
tossed his headback with suchforce that the vertebraein his neckcracked
and, with all his might, butted her in the face with his forehead. Toruviel
howledandstruggled.
Theypulledhimoffherbrutallyand,tuggingathisclothesandhair,lifted
him. One of them struckhim; hefeltringscut the skin over hischeekbone
andtheforestdancedandswaminfrontofhiseyes.HesawToruviellurchto
her knees, blood pouring from her nose and mouth. The elf wrenched the
dagger from its sheath but gave a sob, hunched over, grasped her face and
droppedherheadbetweenherknees.
The tall elfin the jacket adorned with colorful feathers took the dagger
fromherhandandapproachedthewitcher.Hesmiledasheraisedtheblade.
Geraltsawhimthrougharedhaze;bloodfromhisforehead,whichhe’dcut
againstToruviel’steeth,pouredintohiseyesockets.
“No!” bleated Torque, running upto the elfand hanging on to his arm.
“Don’tkillhim!No!”
“Voe’rle, Vanadain,” a sonorous voice suddenly commanded. “Quess
aen?Caelm,evellienn!Galarr!”
Geraltturnedhisheadasfarasthefistclutchinghishairpermitted.
The horse which had just reached the glade was as white as snow, its
manelong,softandsilkyasawoman’shair.Thehairoftheridersittinginthe
sumptuous saddle was identical in color, pulled back at the forehead by a
bandanastuddedwithsapphires.
Torque, bleating now and then, ran up to the horse, caught hold of the
stirrupandshoweredthewhite-hairedelfwithatorrentofwords.TheSeidhe
interrupted him with an authoritative gesture and jumped down from his
saddle.HeapproachedToruviel,whowasbeingsupportedbytwoelves,and
carefullyremovedthebloodiedhandkerchieffromher face.Toruvielgavea
heartrendinggroan. TheSeidheshook hisheadand approachedthewitcher.
His burning black eyes, shining like stars in his pale face, had dark rings
190
beneaththem,asifhehadnotsleptforseveralnightsinarow.
“You stink even when bound,” he said quietly in unaccented common
tongue.“Likeabasilisk.I’lldrawmyconclusionsfromthat.”
“Toruvielstartedit,”bleatedthedevil.“Shekickedhimwhenhewastied
up,asifshe’dlosthermind—”
Withagesture,theelforderedhimtobequiet.Athiscommand,theother
Seidhe dragged the witcher and Dandilion under the pine tree and fastened
them to the trunk with belts. Then they all knelt by the prostrate Toruviel,
shelteringher.AfteramomentGeraltheardheryellandfightintheirarms.
“Ididn’twantthis,”saidthesylvan,stillstandingnexttothem.“Ididn’t,
human. I didn’tknow they’d arrive just when we—Whentheystunned you
andtiedyourcompanionup,Iaskedthemtoleaveyouthere,inthehops.But
—”
“Theycouldn’tleaveanywitnesses,”mutteredthewitcher.
“Surely they won’t kill us, will they?” groaned Dandilion. “Surely they
won’t…”
Torquesaidnothing,wigglinghissoftnose.
“Bloody hell.” The poet groaned. “They’re going to kill us? What’s all
thisabout,Geralt?Whatdidwewitness?”
“OursylvanfriendisonaspecialmissionintheValleyofFlowers.AmI
right,Torque?Attheelves’requesthe’sstealingseeds,seedlings,knowledge
aboutfarming…Whatelse,devil?”
“WhateverIcan,”bleatedTorque.“Everythingtheyneed.Andshowme
somethingtheydon’tneed. They’re starving in themountains, especially in
winter.Andtheyknownothingaboutfarming.Andbeforethey’velearnedto
domesticategameorpoultry,andtocultivatewhattheycanintheirplotsof
land…Theyhaven’tgotthetime,human.”
“Idon’tcareashitabouttheirtime.WhathaveIdonetothem?”groaned
Dandilion.“WhatwronghaveIdonethem?”
“Thinkcarefully,”saidthewhite-hairedelf,approachingwithoutasound,
“andmaybeyoucananswerthequestionyourself.”
“He’s simply taking revenge for all the wrong that man has done the
elves.”Thewitchersmiledwryly.“It’sallthesametohimwhohetakeshis
revenge on. Don’t be deluded by his noble bearing and elaborate speech,
Dandilion.He’snodifferentthan the black-eyes whoknockedusdown.He
hastounloadhispowerlesshatredonsomebody.”
TheelfpickedupDandilion’sshatteredlute.Foramoment,helookedat
theruinedinstrumentinsilence,andfinallythrewitintothebushes.
191
“If I wanted to give vent to hatred or a desire for revenge,” he said,
playingwithapairofsoftwhiteleathergloves,“I’dstormthevalleyatnight,
burn down the village and kill the villagers. Childishly simple. They don’t
evenputoutaguard.Theydon’tseeorhearuswhentheycometotheforest.
Cantherebeanythingsimpler,anythingeasier,thanaswift,silentarrowfrom
behindatree? Butwe’renothunting you.Itisyou, man withstrangeeyes,
whoishuntingourfriend,thesylvanTorque.”
“Eeeeee, that’s exaggerating,” bleated the devil. “What hunt? We were
havingabitoffun—”
“Itisyouhumanswhohateanythingthatdiffersfromyou,beitonlyby
the shape of its ears,” the elf went on calmly, paying no attention to the
sylvan. “That’s why you took our land from us, drove us from our homes,
forcedusintothesavagemountains.YoutookourDolBlathanna,theValley
of Flowers. I am Filavandrel aen Fidhail of Silver Towers, of the Feleaorn
familyfromWhiteShips.Now,exiledandhoundedtotheedgeoftheworld,I
amFilavandreloftheEdgeoftheWorld.”
“The world ishuge,” muttered the witcher. “We canfind room. There’s
enoughspace.”
“Theworldishuge,”repeatedtheelf.“That’strue,human.Butyouhave
changedthisworld.Atfirst,youusedforcetochangeit.Youtreateditasyou
treat anything that falls into your hands. Now it looks as if the world has
startedtofitinwithyou.It’sgivenwaytoyou.It’sgivenin.”
Geraltdidn’treply.
“Torque spoke the truth,” continued Filavandrel. “Yes, we are starving.
Yes,wearethreatenedwithannihilation.Thesunshinesdifferently,theairis
different,waterisnotasitusedtobe.Thethingsweusedtoeat,madeuseof,
are dying, diminishing, deteriorating. We never cultivated the land. Unlike
youhumans,wenevertoreatitwithhoesandploughs.Toyou,theearthpays
abloodytribute.Itbestowedgiftsonus.Youteartheearth’streasuresfromit
byforce.Forus,theearthgavebirthandblossomedbecauseitlovedus.Well,
nolovelastsforever.Butwestillwanttosurvive.”
“Insteadofstealinggrain,youcanbuyit.Asmuchasyouneed.Youstill
haveagreatmanythingsthathumansconsidervaluable.Youcantrade.”
Filavandrelsmiledcontemptuously.“Withyou?Never.”
Geraltfrowned,breakingupthedriedbloodonhischeek.“Thedevilwith
you,then,andyour arrogance andcontempt.Byrefusingto cohabit, you’re
condemning yourselves to annihilation. To cohabit, to come to an
understanding,that’syouronlychance.”
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Filavandrelleanedforward,hiseyesblazing.
“Cohabit on your terms?” he asked in a changed, yet still calm, voice.
“Acknowledging your sovereignty? Losing our identity? Cohabit as what?
Slaves? Pariahs? Cohabit with you from beyond the walls you’ve built to
fenceyourselvesawayintowns?Cohabitwithyourwomenandhangforit?
Orlookonatwhathalf-bloodchildrenmustlivewith?Whyareyouavoiding
my eyes, strange human? Howdoyou find cohabiting with neighborsfrom
whom,afterall,youdodiffersomewhat?”
“I manage.” The witcher looked him straight in the eyes. “I manage
becauseIhaveto.BecauseI’venootherwayout.BecauseI’veovercomethe
vanity and pride of being different. I’ve understood that they are a pitiful
defenseagainst beingdifferent.Because I’veunderstoodthat thesunshines
differently when something changes,but I’m notthe axis ofthose changes.
Thesunshinesdifferently,butitwillcontinuetoshine,andjumpingatitwith
ahoeisn’tgoingtodoanything.We’vegottoacceptfacts,elf.That’swhat
we’vegottolearn.”
“That’swhatyouwant,isn’tit?”Withhiswrist,Filavandrelwipedaway
thesweatabovehiswhitebrows.“Isthatwhatyouwanttoimposeonothers?
The conviction that your timehas come, your human era and age, and that
whatyou’redoingtootherracesisasnaturalastherisingandthesettingof
thesun?Thateverybodyhastocometotermswithit,toacceptit?Andyou
accusemeofvanity?Andwhataretheviewsyou’reproclaiming?Whydon’t
youhumansfinallyrealizethatyourdominationoftheworldisasnaturaland
repellant as lice multiplying in a sheepskin coat? You could propose we
cohabit with lice and get the same reaction—and I’d listen to the lice as
attentivelyifthey,inreturnforouracknowledgmentoftheirsupremacy,were
toagreetoallowcommonuseofthecoat.”
“So don’t waste time discussing it with such an unpleasant insect, elf,”
saidthewitcher,barelyabletocontrolhisvoice.“I’msurprisedyouwantto
arouseafeelingofguiltandrepentanceinsuchalouseasme.You’repitiful,
Filavandrel. You’re embittered, hungry for revenge and conscious of your
ownpowerlessness.Goon,thrusttheswordintome.Revengeyourselfonthe
wholehuman race.You’llsee whatreliefthat’llbringyou. Firstkickme in
theballsortheteeth,likeToruviel.”
Filavandrelturnedhishead.
“Toruvielissick,”hesaid.
“I know that disease and its symptoms.” Geralt spat over his shoulder.
“ThetreatmentIgaveheroughttohelp.”
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“This conversation is senseless.” Filavandrel stepped away. “I’m sorry
we’vegottokillyou.Revengehasnothingtodowithit;it’spurelypractical.
Torquehastocarryonwithhistaskandnoonecansuspectwhohe’sdoingit
for.Wecan’taffordtogotowarwithyou,andwewon’tbetakeninbytrade
andexchange.We’renotsonaivethatwedon’tknowyourmerchantsarejust
outpostsofyourwayoflife.Weknowwhatfollowsthem.Andwhatsortof
cohabitationtheybring.”
“Elf,” Dandilion, who had remained silent until now, said quietly, “I’ve
gotfriends.Peoplewho’llpayransomforus.Intheformofprovisions,ifyou
like,oranyform.Thinkaboutit.Afterall,thosestolenseedsaren’tgoingto
saveyou—”
“Nothingwillsavethemanymore,”Geraltinterruptedhim.“Don’tgrovel,
Dandilion,don’tbeghim.It’spointlessandpitiful.”
“For someone who has lived such a short time”—Filavandrel forced a
smile—“youshowanastoundingdisdainfordeath,human.”
“Yourmothergivesbirthtoyouonlyonceandonlyoncedoyoudie,”the
witchersaidcalmly.“Anappropriatephilosophyforalouse,don’tyouagree?
Andyourlongevity?Ipityyou,Filavandrel.”
Theelfraisedhiseyebrows.
“Why?”
“You’re pathetic, with your little stolen sacks of seeds on pack horses,
with your handful of grain, that tiny crumb thanks to which you plan to
survive. And with that mission of yours which is supposed to turn your
thoughts from imminent annihilation. Because you know this is the end.
Nothingwillsproutoryieldcropsontheplateau;nothingwillsaveyounow.
Butyoulivelong,andyouwillliveverylonginarrogantisolation,fewerand
fewer of you, growing weaker and weaker, more and more bitter. And you
knowwhat’llhappenthen,Filavandrel.Youknowthatdesperateyoungmen
withtheeyesofhundred-year-oldmenandwithered,barrenandsickgirlslike
Toruviel willleadthosewho canstillholda swordandbowin their hands,
downintothevalleys.You’llcomedownintotheblossomingvalleystomeet
death, wanting to die honorably, in battle, and not in sickbeds of misery,
whereanemia,tuberculosisandscurvywillsendyou.Then,long-livingAen
Seidhe,you’ll rememberme.You’ll rememberthatI pitiedyou.And you’ll
understandthatIwasright.”
“Timewilltellwhowasright,”saidtheelfquietly.“Andhereinliesthe
advantageof longevity. I’ve got a chance of findingout, if onlybecause of
that stolen handful of grain. You won’t have a chance like that. You’ll die
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shortly.”
“Sparehim,atleast.”GeraltindicatedDandilionwithhishead.“No,not
outofloftymercy.Outofcommonsense.Nobody’sgoingtoaskafterme,but
theyaregoingtotakerevengeforhim.”
“Youjudgemycommonsensepoorly,”theelfsaidaftersomehesitation.
“Ifhesurvivesthankstoyou,he’llundoubtedlyfeelobligedtoavengeyou.”
“Youcanbesureofthat!”Dandilionburstout,paleasdeath.“Youcanbe
sure,yousonofabitch.Killmetoo,becauseIpromiseotherwiseI’llsetthe
worldagainstyou.You’llseewhatlicefromafurcoatcando!We’llfinish
youoffevenifwehavetolevelthosemountainsofyourstotheground!You
canbesureofthat!”
“Howstupidyouare,Dandilion,”sighedthewitcher.
“Yourmothergivesbirthtoyouonlyonceandonlyoncedoyoudie,”said
the poet haughtily, the effect somewhat spoiled by his teeth rattling like
castanets.
“Thatsettlesit.”Filavandreltookhisglovesfromhisbeltandpulledthem
on.“It’stimetoendthis.”
At his command, the elves positioned themselves opposite Geralt and
Dandilionwithbows.Theydiditquickly;they’dobviouslybeenwaitingfor
thisalongtime.Oneofthem,thewitchernoticed,wasstillchewingaturnip.
Toruviel,hermouthandnosebandagedwithclothandbirchbark,stoodnext
tothearchers.Withoutabow.
“ShallIbindyoureyes?”askedFilavandrel.
“Goaway.”Thewitcherturnedhishead.“Go—”
“Ad’yeableaeparse,”Dandilionfinishedforhim,histeethchattering.
“Oh, no!” the sylvan suddenly bleated, running up and sheltering the
condemnedmenwithhisbody.“Haveyoulostyourmind?Filavandrel!This
isnot whatweagreed!Notthis! Youweresupposed totakethemupto the
mountains,holdthemsomewhereinsomecave,untilwe’dfinished—”
“Torque,”saidtheelf,“Ican’t.Ican’triskit.Didyouseewhathedidto
Toruvielwhiletiedup?Ican’triskit.”
“Idon’tcarewhatyoucanorcan’t!Whatdoyouimagine?YouthinkI’ll
let you murder them? Here, on my land? Right next to my hamlet? You
accursed idiots! Get out of herewithyour bows or I’ll ramyou down.Uk!
Uk!”
“Torque.”Filavandrelrestedhishandsonhisbelt.“Thisisnecessary.”
“Duvvelsheyss,notnecessary!”
“Moveaside,Torque.”
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Thesylvanshookhisears,bleatedevenlouder,staredandbenthiselbow
inanabusivegesturepopularamongdwarves.
“You’re not going to murderanybody here!Get onyour horsesand out
intothemountains,beyondthepasses!Otherwiseyou’llhavetokillmetoo!”
“Be reasonable,” said the white-haired elf slowly. “If we let them live,
people are going to learn what you’re doing. They’ll catch you and torture
you.Youknowwhatthey’relike,afterall.”
“Ido,”bleatedthe sylvan stillshelteringGeraltand Dandilion. “Itturns
out I know them better than Iknowyou!And, verily, I don’tknow who to
sidewith.Iregretallyingmyselfwithyou,Filavandrel!”
“Youwantedto,”saidtheelfcoldly,givingasignaltothearchers.“You
wantedto,Torque.Lsparellean!Evellienn!
The elves drew arrows from their quivers. “Go away, Torque,” said
Geralt, gritting his teeth. “It’s senseless. Get aside.” The sylvan, without
budgingfromthespot,showedhimthedwarves’gesture.
“Icanhear…music…”Dandilionsuddenlysobbed.
“Ithappens,”saidthe witcher, looking at thearrowheads.“Don’tworry.
There’snoshameinfear.”
Filavandrel’sfacechanged,screwedupinastrangegrimace.Thewhite-
haired Seidhe suddenlyturned round and gave ashout to thearchers. They
loweredtheirweapons.
Lilleenteredtheglade.
Shewasnolongeraskinnypeasantgirlinasackclothdress.Throughthe
grassescoveringthegladewalked—no,notwalked—floatedaqueen,radiant,
golden-haired,fiery-eyed,ravishing.TheQueenoftheFields,decoratedwith
garlandsofflowers,earsofcorn,bunchesofherbs.
At her left-hand side, a young stag pattered on stiff legs, at her right
rustledanenormoushedgehog.
“Dana Meadbh,” saidFilavandrelwith veneration. Andthen bowed and
knelt.
Theremainingelvesalsoknelt;slowly,reluctantly,theyfelltotheirknees
oneaftertheotherandbowedtheirheadslowinveneration.Toruvielwasthe
lasttokneel.
Hael,DanaMeadbh,”repeatedFilavandrel.
Lilledidn’tanswer.Shestoppedseveralpacesshortoftheelfandswept
her blue eyes over Dandilion and Geralt. Torque, while bowing, started
cuttingthroughtheknots.NoneoftheSeidhemoved.
Lillestoodin front of Filavandrel.Shedidn’tsay anything, didn’tmake
196
theslightestsound,butthewitchersawthechangesontheelfsface,sensed
the aura surrounding them and was in no doubt they were communicating.
Thedevilsuddenlypulledathissleeve.
“Your friend,” he bleated quietly, “has decided to faint. Right on time.
Whatshallwedo?”
“Slaphimacrossthefaceacoupleoftimes.”
“Withpleasure.”
Filavandrel got up from his knees. At his command, the elves fell to
saddlingthehorsesasquickaslightning.
“Comewithus,DanaMeadbh,”saidthewhite-hairedelf.“Weneedyou.
Don’t abandon us, Eternal One. Don’t deprive us of your love. We’ll die
withoutit.”
Lille slowly shook her head and indicated east, the direction of the
mountains. The elf bowed, crumpling the ornate reins of his white-maned
mountinhishands.
Dandilion walked up, pale and dumbfounded, supported by the sylvan.
Lille looked at him and smiled. She looked into the witchers eyes. She
lookedlong.Shedidn’tsayaword.Wordsweren’tnecessary.
Most of the elves were already in their saddles when Filavandrel and
Toruvielapproached.Geraltlookedintotheelfsblackeyes,visibleabovethe
bandages.
“Toruviel…”hesaid.Anddidn’tfinish.
The elf nodded. From her saddlebow, she took a lute, a marvelous
instrument of light, tastefully inlaid wood with a slender, engraved neck.
Without a word, she handed the lute to Dandilion. The poet accepted the
instrumentandsmiled.Alsowithoutaword,buthiseyessaidagreatdeal.
“Farewell, strange human,” Filavandrel said quietly to Geralt. “You’re
right.Wordsaren’tnecessary.Theywon’tchangeanything.”
Geraltremainedsilent.
“After some consideration,” added the Seidhe, “I’ve come to the
conclusion that you were right. When you pitied us. So goodbye. Goodbye
until we meet again, on the day when we descend into the valleys to die
honorably.We’lllookoutforyouthen,ToruvielandI.Don’tletusdown.”
Foralongtime,theylookedateachotherinsilence.Andthenthewitcher
answeredbrieflyandsimply:
“I’lltry.”
197
198
VII
“By the gods, Geralt.” Dandilion stopped playing, hugged the lute and
touched it with his cheek. “This wood sings on its own! These strings are
alive! What wonderfultonality! Bloody hell, acouple of kicksand a bitof
fearisaprettylowpricetopayforsuchasuperblute.I’dhaveletmyselfbe
kickedfromdawntoduskifI’dknownwhatIwasgoingtoget.Geralt?Are
youlisteningtomeatall?”
“It’sdifficultnottohearyoutwo.”Geraltraisedhisheadfromthebook
andglancedatthesylvan,whowasstillstubbornlysqueakingon apeculiar
set of pipes made from reeds of various lengths. “I hear you; the whole
neighborhoodhearsyou.”
“Duvvelsheyss,notneighborhood.”Torqueputhispipesaside.“Adesert,
that’swhatitis.Awilderness.Ashit-hole.Eh,Imissmyhemp!”
“Hemisseshishemp,”laughedDandilion,carefullyturningthedelicately
engravedlutepegs.“Youshouldhavesatinthethicketquietasadormouse
insteadofscaringgirls,destroyingdykesandsullyingthewell.Ithinkyou’re
goingtobemorecarefulnowandgiveupyourtricks,eh,Torque?”
“Iliketricks,”declaredthesylvan,baringhisteeth.“AndIcan’timagine
lifewithoutthem.Buthaveityourway.Ipromisetobemorecarefulonnew
territory.I’llbemorerestrained.”
The night was cloudy and windy. The gale beat down the reeds and
rustledinthebranchesofthebushessurroundingtheircamp.Dandilionthrew
somedrytwigsintothefire.Torque wriggled around on his makeshift bed,
swipingmosquitoesawaywithhistail.Afishleaptinthelakewithasplash.
“I’lldescribeourwholeexpeditiontotheedgeoftheworldinaballad,”
declaredDandilion.“AndI’lldescribeyouinit,too,Torque.”
“Don’t think you’ll get away with it,” growled the sylvan. “I’ll write a
balladtoo,then,anddescribeyou,butinsuchawayasyouwon’tbeableto
showyourfaceindecentcompanyfortwelveyears.Sowatchout!
Geralt?”
“What?”
“Have you read anything interesting in that book which you so
disgracefullywheedledoutofthosefreemen?”
“Ihave.”
“Soreadittous,beforethefireburnsout.”
“Yes,yes”—DandilionstrummedthemelodiousstringsofToruviel’slute
199
—“readussomething,Geralt.”
Thewitcherleanedonhiselbow,edgingthevolumeclosertothefire.
“‘Glimpsedshemaybe,’”hebegan,“‘duringthetimeofsumor,from
thedaysofMaiandJuyntothedaysofOctober,butmostoftthishapsonthe
FesteoftheScythe,whichancientswouldcallLammas.Sherevealethherself
astheFairhairedLadie,inflowersall,andallthatlivethfollowethherpath
andclingethtoher,asone,plantorbeast.HencehernameisLyfia.Ancients
call her Danamebi and venerate her greatly. Even the Bearded, albeit in
mountainsnotonfieldstheydwell,respectandcallherBloemenmagde.’”
“Danamebi,”mutteredDandilion.“DanaMeadbh,theLadyoftheFields.”
“ ‘Whence Lyfia treads the earth blossometh and bringeth forth, and
abundantly doth each creature breed, such is her might. All nations to her
offersacrificeofharvestinvainhopetheirfield notanotherswillbyLyfia
visitedbe.BecauseitisalsosaidthattherecomethadayatendwhenLyfia
willcometosettleamongthattribewhichaboveallotherswillrise,butthese
bemerewomenfolktales.Because,forsooth,thewisedosaythatLyfialoveth
but One land and that which groweth on it and liveth alike, with no
difference,beitthesmallestofcommonappletreesorthemostwretchedof
insects,andallnationsarenomoretoherthanthatthinnestoftreesbecause,
forsooth,theytoowillbegoneandnew,differenttribeswillfollow.ButLyfia
eternalis,wasandevershallbeuntiltheendoftime.’”
“Until the end of time!” sang the troubadour and strummed his lute.
Torquejoinedinwithahightrillonhisreedpipes.“Hail,LadyoftheFields!
Fortheharvest,fortheflowersinDolBlathanna,butalsoforthehideofthe
undersigned,whichyousavedfrombeingriddledwitharrows.Doyouknow
what?I’mgoingtotellyousomething.”Hestoppedplaying,huggedthelute
like a child and grew sad. “I don’t think I’ll mention the elves and the
difficultiesthey’vegottostrugglewith,intheballad.There’dbenoshortage
of scum wanting to go into the mountains… Why hasten the—” The
troubadourgrewsilent.
“Go on, finish,” said Torque bitterly. “You wanted to say: hasten what
can’tbeavoided.Theinevitable.”
“Let’s not talk about it,” interrupted Geralt. “Why talk about it? Words
aren’tnecessary.FollowLille’sexample.”
“Shespoketotheelftelepathically,”mutteredthebard.“Isensedit.I’m
right,aren’tI,Geralt?Afterall,youcansensecommunicationlikethat.Did
youunderstandwhat…whatshewasgettingacrosstotheelf?”
“Someofit.”
200
“Whatwasshetalkingabout?”
“Hope.Thatthingsrenewthemselves,andwon’tstopdoingso.”
“Isthatall?”
“Thatwasenough.”
“Hmm… Geralt? Lille lives in the village, among people Do you think
that—”
“—thatshe’llstaywiththem?Here,inDolBlathanna?Maybe.If…”
“Ifwhat?”
“Ifpeopleproveworthyofit.Iftheedgeoftheworldremainstheedgeof
theworld.Ifwerespecttheboundaries.Butenoughofthistalk,boys.Timeto
sleep.”
“True. It’s nearly midnight; the fire’s burning out. I’ll sit up for a little
whileyet.I’vealwaysfounditeasiesttoinventrhymesbesideadyingfire.
AndIneedatitleformyballad.Anicetitle.”
“MaybeTheEdgeoftheWorld?”
“Banal,” snorted the poet. “Even if it really is the edge, it’s got to be
describeddifferently.Metaphorically.Itakeityouknowwhatametaphoris,
Geralt?Hmm…Letmethink…‘Where…’Bloodyhell.‘Where—’”
“Goodnight,”saidthedevil.
201
THEVOICEOFREASON
202
I
Thewitcherunlacedhisshirtandpeeledthewetlinenfromhisneck.Itwas
verywarminthecave,hot,even,theairhungheavyandmoist,thehumidity
condensingindropletsonthemoss-coveredbouldersandbasaltblocksofthe
walls.
Plants were everywhere. They grew out of beds hewn into the bedrock
and filled with peat, in enormous chests, troughs and flowerpots. They
climbeduprocks,upwoodentrellisesandstakes.Geraltexaminedthemwith
interest, recognizing some rare specimens—those which made up the
ingredients of a witchers medicines and elixirs, magical philters and a
sorcerers decoctions, and others, even rarer, whose qualities he could only
guess at. Some he didn’t know at all, or hadn’t even heard of. He saw
stretches of star-leafed melilote, compact balls of puffheads pouring out of
huge flowerpots, shoots ofarenaria strewn with berriesasred as blood.He
recognized the meaty, thickly veined leaves of fastaim, the crimson-golden
ovals of measure-me-nots and the dark arrows of sawcuts. He noticed
pinnatedpondbloodmosshuddledagainststoneblocks,theglisteningtubers
ofraven’seyeandthetiger-stripedpetalsofthemouse-tailorchid.
Intheshadypartofthegrottobulgedcapsofthese-wantmushroom,gray
asstonesinafield.Notfarfromthemgrewreachcluster,anantidotetoevery
known toxin and venom. The modest yellow-gray brushes peering from
chests deeply sunken into the ground revealed scarix, a root with powerful
anduniversalmedicinalqualities.
Thecenterof thecavewastakenup byaqueousplants.Geralt saw vats
fullofhornwortandturtleduckweed,andtankscoveredinacompactskinof
liverwort,fodderfortheparasiticgiantoyster.Glassreservoirsfullofgnarled
rhizomes of the hallucinogenic bitip, slender, dark-green cryptocorines and
clusters of nematodes. Muddy, silted troughs were breeding grounds for
innumerablephycomycetes,algae,moldsandswamplichen.
Nenneke, rolling up the sleeves of her priestess’s robe, took a pair of
scissorsandalittlebonerakefromherbasketandgottowork.Geraltsatona
benchbetweenshaftsoflightfallingthroughhugecrystalblocksinthecave’s
vault.
Thepriestessmutteredandhummedunderherbreath,deftlyplungingher
hands into the thicket of leaves and shoots, snipping with her scissors and
fillingthebasketwithbunchesofweeds.Sheadjustedthestakesandframes
203
supportingtheplantsand,nowandagain,turnedthesoilwithhersmallrake.
Sometimes, muttering angrily, she pulled out dried or rotted stalks, threw
themintothehumuscontainersasfoodformushroomsandothersquamous
andsnake-liketwistedplantswhichthewitcherdidn’trecognize.Hewasn’t
evensurethey were plantsatall—itseemed to himtheglisteningrhizomes
movedalittle,stretchingtheirhair-likeoffshootstowardthepriestess’shands.
Itwaswarm.Verywarm.
“Geralt?”
“Yes?”Hefoughtoffanoverwhelmingsleepiness.Nenneke,playingwith
her scissors, was looking at him from behind the huge pinnated leaves of
sand-spurryflybush.
“Don’tleaveyet.Stay.Afewmoredays.”
“No,Nenneke.It’stimeformetobeonmyway.”
“Whythehurry?Youdon’thavetoworryaboutHere-ward.Andletthat
vagabondDandiliongoandbreakhisneckonhisown.Stay,Geralt.”
“No,Nenneke.”
Thepriestesssnippedwithscissors.“Areyouinsuchhastetoleavethe
templebecauseyou’reafraidthatshe’llfindyouhere?”
“Yes,”headmittedreluctantly.“You’veguessed.”
“It wasn’texactly difficult,”she muttered. “But don’t worry. Yennefers
alreadybeenhere.Twomonthsago.Shewon’tbebackinahurry,becausewe
quarreled.No,notbecauseofyou.Shedidn’taskaboutyou.”
“Shedidn’task?”
“That’swhereithurts,”thepriestesslaughed.“You’reegocentric,likeall
men. There’s nothing worse than a lack of interest, is there? Than
indifference? No, but don’t lose heart. I know Yennefer only too well. She
didn’taskanything,butshedidlookaroundattentively,lookingforsignsof
you.Andshe’smightyfuriousatyou,thatIdidfeel.”
“Whatdidyouquarrelabout?”
“Nothingthatwouldinterestyou.”
“Iknowanyway.”
“Idon’tthinkso,”saidNennekecalmly,adjustingthestakes.“Youknow
herverysuperficially.As,incidentally,sheknowsyou.It’squitetypicalofthe
relationshipwhichbindsyou,ordidbindyou.Bothpartiesaren’tcapableof
anything other than a strongly emotional evaluation of the consequences,
whileignoringthecauses.”
“She came looking for a cure,” he remarked coldly. “That’s what you
quarreledabout,admitit.”
204
“Iwon’tadmitanything.”
Thewitchergotupandstoodinfulllightunderoneofthecrystalsheetsin
thegrotto’svault.
“Come here a minute, Nenneke. Take a look at this.” He unknotted a
secret pocket in his belt, dug out a tiny bundle, a miniature purse made of
goat-leather,andpouredthecontentsintohispalm.
“Twodiamonds,aruby,threeprettynephrites,andaninterestingagate.”
Nenneke was knowledgeable about everything. “How much did they cost
you?”
“TwoandahalfthousandTemeriaorens.PaymentfortheWyzimstriga.”
“For a torn neck.” The priestess grimaced. “Oh, well, it’s a question of
price.Butyoudidwelltoturncashintothesetrinkets.Theorenisweakand
thecostofstonesinWyzimisn’thigh;it’stooneartothedwarves’minesin
Mahakam. If you sell those in Novigrad, you’ll get at least five hundred
Novigradcrowns,andthecrown,atpresent,standsatsixandahalforensand
isgoingup.”
“I’dlikeyoutotakethem.”
“Forsafekeeping?”
“No.Keepthenephritesforthetempleas,shallwesay,myofferingtothe
goddessMelitele.Andtheremainingstones…areforher.ForYennefer.Give
themtoherwhenshecomestovisityouagain,whichwillnodoubtbesoon.”
Nennekelookedhimstraightintheeyes.
“Iwouldn’tdothisifIwereyou.You’llmakeherevenmorefurious,if
that’s possible, believe me. Leave everything as it is, because you’re no
longerinapositiontomendanythingormakeanythingbetter.Runningaway
fromher,youbehaved…well,let’ssay,inamannernotparticularlyworthy
of a mature man. By trying to wipe away your guilt with precious stones,
you’llbehavelikeavery,veryover-matureman.Ireallydon’tknowwhatsort
ofmanIcanstandless.”
“Shewastoopossessive,”hemuttered,turningawayhisface.“Icouldn’t
standit.Shetreatedmelike—”
“Stop it,” she said sharply. “Don’t cry on my shoulder. I’m not your
mother, and I won’t be your confidante either. I don’t give a shit how she
treatedyouandIcareevenlesshowyoutreatedher.AndIdon’tintendtobe
ago-betweenorgivethesestupidjewelstoher.Ifyouwanttobeafool,doit
withoutusingmeasanintermediary.”
“Youmisunderstand.I’mnotthinkingofappeasingorbribingher.ButI
doowehersomething,andthetreatmentshewantstoundergoisapparently
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verycostly.Iwanttohelpher,that’sall.”
“You’remoreofanidiotthanIthought.”Nennekepickedupthebasket
fromtheground.“Acostlytreatment?Help?Geralt,thesejewelsofyoursare,
toher,knickknacksnotworthspittingon.DoyouknowhowmuchYennefer
canearnforgettingridofanunwantedpregnancyforagreatlady?”
“Idohappentoknow.Andthatsheearnsevenmoreforcuringinfertility.
It’s ashameshecan’thelp herself inthatrespect.That’swhyshe’sseeking
helpfromothers—likeyou.”
“Noonecanhelpher;it’simpossible.She’sasorceress.Likemostfemale
magicians,herovariesareatrophiedandit’sirreversible.She’llneverbeable
tohavechildren.”
“Not all sorceresses are handicapped in this respect. I know something
aboutthat,andyoudo,too.”
Nennekeclosedhereyes.“Yes,Ido.”
“Somethingcan’tbearuleifthereareexceptionstoit.Andpleasedon’t
give me any banal untruths about exceptions proving the rule. Tell me
somethingaboutexceptionsassuch.”
“Only one thing,” she said coldly, “can be said about exceptions. They
exist. Nothing more. But Yennefer… Well, unfortunately, she isn’t an
exception.Atleastnotasregardsthehandicapwe’retalkingabout.Inother
respectsit’shardtofindagreaterexceptionthanher.”
“Sorcerers”—Geraltwasn’tputoffbyNenneke’scoldness,orherallusion
—“have raised the dead. I know of proven cases. And it seems to me that
raisingthedeadisharderthanreversingtheatrophyofanyorgans.”
“You’re mistaken. Because I don’t know of one single, proven, fully
successfulcaseofreversingatrophyorregeneratingendocrineglands.Geralt,
that’senough.Thisisbeginningtosoundlikeaconsultation.Youdon’tknow
anythingaboutthesethings.Ido.AndifItellyouthatYenneferhaspaidfor
certaingiftsbylosingothers,thenthat’showitis.”
“Ifit’ssoclear,thenIdon’tunderstandwhyshekeepsontryingto—”
“Youunderstandverylittle,”interruptedthepriestess.“Bloodylittle.Stop
worryingaboutYenneferscomplaintsandthinkaboutyourown.Yourbody
wasalsosubjectedtochangeswhichareirreversible.She surprisesyou, but
whataboutyou?Itoughttobecleartoyoutoo,thatyou’renevergoingtobe
human,butyoustillkeeptryingtobeone.Makinghumanmistakes.Mistakes
awitchershouldn’tbemaking.”
Heleanedagainstthewallofthecaveandwipedthesweatfromhisbrow.
“You’re not answering,” stated Nenneke, smiling faintly. “I’m not
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surprised.It’snoteasytospeakwiththevoiceofreason.You’resick,Geralt.
You’renotfullyfit.Youreacttoelixirsbadly.You’vegotarapidpulserate,
thedilationofyoureyesisslow,yourreactionsaredelayed.Youcan’tgetthe
simplestSigns right. And you wanttohit the trail? You havetobe treated.
Youneedtherapy.Andbeforethat,atrance.”
“Is that why you sent Iola to me? As part of the therapy? To make the
tranceeasier?”
“You’reafool!”
“Butnottosuchanextent.”
Nenneke turned away and slipped her hands among the meaty stalks of
creeperswhichthewitcherdidn’trecognize.
“Well,haveityourway,”shesaideasily.“Yes,Isenthertoyou.Aspart
of the therapy. And let me tell you, it worked. Your reactions were much
better the following day. You were calmer. And Iola needed some therapy,
too.Don’tbeangry.”
“I’mnotangrybecauseofthetherapy,orbecauseofIola.”
“Butatthevoiceofreasonyou’rehearing?”
Hedidn’tanswer.
“A trance is necessary,” repeated Nenneke, glancing around at her cave
garden.“Iola’sready.She’smadebothphysicalandpsychiccontactwithyou.
Ifyouwanttoleave,let’sdoittonight.”
“No.Idon’twantto.Look,Nenneke,Iolamightstarttoprophesyduring
thetrance.Topredict,readthefuture.”
“That’sjustit.”
“Exactly.AndIdon’twanttoknowthefuture.HowcouldIdowhatI’m
doingifIknewit?Besides,Iknowitanyway.”
“Areyousure?”Hedidn’tanswer.“Oh,well,allright,”shesighed.“Let’s
go.Oh,and,Geralt?I don’tmean to pry but tellme…Howdid you meet?
YouandYennefer?Howdiditallstart?”
The witcher smiled. “It started with me and Dandilion not having
anythingforbreakfastanddecidingtocatchsomefish.”
“AmItounderstandthatinsteadoffishyoucaughtYennefer?”
“I’lltellyouwhathappened.Butmaybeaftersupper.I’mhungry.”
“Let’sgo,then.I’vegoteverythingIneed.”
Thewitchermadeamovetowardtheexitandoncemorelookedaround
thecavehothouse.
“Nenneke?”
“Aha?”
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“Half of the plants you’vegotheredon’tgrow anywhereelseanymore.
AmIright?”
“Yes.Morethanhalf.”
“Howcome?”
“If I said it was through the goddess Melitele’s grace, I daresay that
wouldn’tbeenoughforyou,wouldit?”
“Idaresayitwouldn’t.”
“That’swhatIthought.”Nennekesmiled.“Yousee,Geralt,thisbrightsun
ofoursisstillshining,butnotquitethewayitusedto.Readthegreatbooksif
youlike.Butif you don’twant to waste timeonit,maybeyou’ll be happy
with the explanation that the crystal roof acts like a filter. It eliminates the
lethalrayswhichareincreasinglyfoundinsunlight.That’swhyplantswhich
youcan’tseegrowingwildanywhereintheworldgrowhere.”
“Iunderstand.”Thewitchernodded.“Andus,Nenneke?Whataboutus?
Thesunshinesonus,too.Shouldn’tweshelterunderarooflikethat?”
“Inprinciple,yes,”sighedthepriestess.“But…”
“Butwhat?”
“It’stoolate.”
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THELASTWISH
209
I
The catfish stuck its barbelled head above the surface, tugged with force,
splashed,stirredthewaterandflasheditswhitebelly.
“Careful,Dandilion!”shoutedthewitcher,digginghisheelsintothewet
sand.“Holdhim,damnit!”
“Iamholdinghim…”groanedthepoet.“Heavens,whatamonster!It’sa
leviathan,notafish!There’llbesomegoodeatingonthat,deargods!”
“Loosenit.Loosenitorthelinewillsnap!”
Thecatfishclungtothebedandthrewitselfagainstthecurrenttowardthe
bend in the river. The line hissed as Dandilion’s and Geralt’s gloves
smoldered.
“Pull,Geralt,pull!Don’tloosenitorit’llgettangledupintheroots!”
“Thelinewillsnap!”
“No,itwon’t.Pull!”
Theyhunchedupandpulled.Thelinecutthewaterwithahiss,vibrated
and scattered droplets which glistened like mercury in the rising sun. The
catfishsuddenlysurfaced,setthewaterseethingjustbelow thesurface,and
thetensionofthelineeased.Theyquicklystartedtogatheruptheslack.
“We’llsmokeit,”pantedDandilion.“We’lltakeittothevillageandgetit
smoked.Andwe’llusetheheadforsoup!”
“Careful!”
Feelingtheshallowsunderitsbelly,thecatfishthrew halfofitstwelve-
foot-longbodyoutofthewater,tosseditshead,whackeditsflattailandtook
asharpdiveintothedepths.Theirglovessmolderedanew.
“Pull,pull!Tothebank,thesonofabitch!”
“Thelineiscreaking!Loosenit,Dandilion!”
“It’llhold,don’tworry!We’llcookthehead…forsoup…”
Thecatfish,draggedneartothebankagain,surgedandstrainedfuriously
againstthemasiftoletthemknowhewasn’tthateasytogetintothepot.The
sprayflewsixfeetintotheair.
“We’ll sell the skin…” Dandilion, red with effort, pulled the line with
bothhands.“Andthebarbels…We’llusethebarbelstomake—”
Nobody ever found out what the poet was going to make from the
catfish’s barbels. The line snapped with a crack and both fishermen, losing
theirbalance,fellontothewetsand.
“Bloodyhell!” Dandilionyelledso loudthatthe echoresoundedthough
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theosiers.“Somuchgrubescaped!Ihopeyoudie,youson-of-a-catfish.”
“Itoldyou.” Geralt shook his wet trousers. “I told you not to use force
whenyoupull.Youscrewedup,myfriend.Youmakeasgoodafishermanas
agoat’sarsemakesatrumpet.”
“That’s nottrue.” The troubadour wasoutraged. “It’s my doingthat the
monstertookthebaitinthefirstplace.”
“Ohreally?Youdidn’tliftafingertohelpmesettheline.Youplayedthe
luteandholleredsothewholeneighborhoodcouldhearyou,nothingmore.”
“You’re wrong.” Dandilion bared his teeth. “When you fell asleep, you
see,Itookthegrubsoffthehookandattachedadeadcrow,whichI’dfound
inthebushes.Iwantedtoseeyourfaceinthemorningwhenyoupulledthe
crowout.Andthecatfishtookthecrow.Yourgrubswouldhavecaughtshit-
all.”
“They would have, they would have.” The witcher spat into the water,
winding the line on to a little wooden rake. “But it snapped because you
tugged like an idiot. Wind up the rest of the lines instead of gabbling. The
sun’salreadyup;it’stimetogo.I’mgoingtopackup.”
“Geralt!”
“What?”
“There’s something on the other line, too… No, dammit, it only got
caught.Hell,it’sholdinglikeastone.Ican’tdoit!Ah,that’sit…Ha,ha,look
whatI’mbringingin.ItmustbethewreckofabargefromKingDezmod’s
time!Whatgreatstuff!Look,Geralt!”
Dandilion was clearly exaggerating; the clump of rotted ropes, net and
algaepulledoutofthewaterwasimpressivebutitwasfarfrombeingthesize
ofabargedatingfromthedaysofthelegendaryking.Thebardscatteredthe
jumbleoverthebankandbegantodigaroundinitwiththetipofhisshoe.
Thealgaewasalivewithleeches,scudsandlittlecrabs.
“Ha!LookwhatI’vefound!”
Geralt approached, curious. The find was a chipped stoneware jar,
something like a two-handled amphora, tangled up in netting, black with
rotten algae, colonies of caddis-larvae and snails, dripping with stinking
slime.
“Ha!”Dandilionexclaimedagain,proudly.“Doyouknowwhatthisis?”
“It’sanoldpot.”
“You’re wrong,” declared the troubadour, scraping away shells and
hardened, shiny clay. “This is a charmed jar. There’s a djinn inside who’ll
fulfillmythreewishes.”
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Thewitchersnorted.
“Youcanlaugh.”Dandilionfinishedhisscraping,bentoverandrinsedthe
amphora.“Butthere’sasealonthespigotandawizard’smarkontheseal.”
“Whatmark?Let’ssee.”
“Oh,sure.”Thepoethidthejarbehindhisback.“Andwhatmoredoyou
want?I’mtheonewhofounditandIneedallthewishes.”
“Don’ttouchthatseal!Leaveitalone!”
“Letgo,Itellyou!It’smine!”
“Dandilion,becareful!”
“Sure!”
“Don’ttouchit!Oh,bloodyhell!”
Thejarfelltothesandduringtheirscuffle,andluminousredsmokeburst
forth.
The witcher jumped back and rushed toward the camp for his sword.
Dandilion,foldinghisarmsacrosshischest,didn’tmove.
The smoke pulsated and collected in an irregular sphere level with
Dandilion’s eyes. Thesphereformedasix-foot-wide distorted head withno
nose,enormouseyesandasortofbeak.
“Djinn!” said Dandilion, stamping his foot. “I freed thee and as of this
day,Iamthylord.Mywishes—”
Theheadsnappeditsbeak,whichwasn’treallyabeakbutsomethingin
theshapeofdrooping,deformedandever-changinglips.
“Run!”yelledthewitcher.“Run,Dandilion!”
“My wishes,” continued the poet, “are as follows. Firstly, may Valdo
Marx, the troubadour of Cidaris, die of apoplexy as soon as possible.
Secondly,there’sacount’sdaughterinCaelfcalledVirginiawhorefusesall
advances.Mayshesuccumbtomine.Thirdly—”
NooneeverfoundoutDandilion’sthirdwish.
Two monstrous paws emerged from the horrible head and grabbed the
bardbythethroat.Dandilionscreeched.
Geraltreachedtheheadinthreeleaps,swipedhissilverswordandslashed
it through the middle. The air howled, the head exhaled smokeand rapidly
doubled in diameter. The monstrous jaw, now also much larger, flew open,
snappedand whistled; the paws pulled the struggling Dandilion around and
crushedhimtotheground.
The witcher crossed his fingers in the Sign of Aard and threw as much
energyashecouldmusteratthehead.Theenergymaterializedinablinding
beam, sliced through the glow surrounding the head and hit its mark. The
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boomwassoloudthatitstabbedGeralt’sears,andtheairsuckedinbythe
implosionmadethewillowsrustle.Theroarofthemonsterwasdeafeningas
itgrewevenlarger,butitreleasedthepoet,soaredup,circledand,wavingits
paws,flewawayoverthewater.
ThewitcherrushedtopullDandilion—whowaslyingmotionless—away.
Atthatmoment,hisfingerstouchedaroundobjectburiedinthesand.
Itwasabrasssealdecoratedwiththesignofabrokencrossandanine-
pointedstar.
Thehead,suspendedabovetheriver,hadbecomethesizeofahaystack,
whiletheopen,roaringjawslookedlikethegatesofan average-sizedbarn.
Stretchingoutitspaws,themonsterattacked.
Geralt,nothavingtheleastideaofwhattodo,squeezedthesealinhisfist
and, extending his hand toward theassailant, screamed outthe wordsof an
exorcism a priestess had once taught him. He had never used those words
untilnowbecause,inprinciple,hedidn’tbelieveinsuperstitions.
Theeffectsurpassedhisexpectations.
Thesealhissedandgrewhot,burninghishand.Thegiganticheadfrozein
theair,suspended,motionlessabovetheriver.Ithunglikethatforamoment
then,atlast,itbegantohowl,roar,anddispersedintoapulsatingbundleof
smoke, into a huge, whirling cloud. The cloud whined shrilly and whisked
upstream with incredible speed, leaving a trail of churned-up water on the
surface. In a matterof seconds,it had disappeared into thedistance;only a
dwindlinghowllingeredacrossthewater.
Thewitcherrushedtothepoet,coweringonthesand.
“Dandilion? Are you dead? Dandilion, damn it! What’s the matter with
you?”
The poet jerked his head, shook his hands and opened his mouth to
scream.Geralt grimacedandnarrowed hiseyes—Dandilionhad a trained—
loud—tenorvoiceand,whenfrightened,couldreachextraordinaryregisters.
Butwhatemergedfromthebard’sthroatwasabarelyaudible,hoarsecroak.
“Dandilion!What’sthematterwithyou?Answerme!”
“Hhhh…eeee…kheeeee…theeeewhhhhorrrrrrre…”
“Areyouinpain?What’sthematter?Dandilion!”
“Hhhh…Whhhooo…”
“Don’tsayanything.Ifeverything’sallright,nod.”
Dandilion grimaced and, with great difficulty, nodded and then
immediately turned on his side, curled up and—choking and coughing—
vomitedblood.
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Geraltcursed.
214
II
“Byallthegods!”Theguardsteppedbackandloweredthelantern.“What’s
thematterwithhim?”
“Let us through, my good man,” said the witcher quietly, supporting
Dandilion,whowashuddledupinthesaddle.“We’reingreathaste,asyou
see.”
“I do.” The guard swallowed, looking at the poet’s pale face and chin
coveredinblack,driedblood.“Wounded?Itlooksterrible,sir.”
“I’minhaste,”repeatedGeralt.“We’vebeentravelingsincedawn.Letus
through,please.”
“Wecan’t,”saidtheotherguard.“You’reonlyallowedthroughbetween
sunriseandsunset.Nonemaypassatnight.That’stheorder.There’snoway
throughforanyoneunlessthey’vegotaletterofsafe-conductfromtheking
orthemayor.Orthey’renobilitywithacoatofarms.”
Dandilion croaked, huddled up even more, resting his forehead on the
horse’s mane, shuddered,shookandretcheddryly. Another streamofblood
trickleddownthebranched,driedpatternonhismount’sneck.
“My good men,” Geralt said as calmly as he could, “you can see for
yourselveshowbadlyhefares.Ihavetofindsomeonewhocantreathim.Let
usthrough.Please.”
“Don’task.”Theguardleanedonhishalberd.“Ordersareorders.I’llgo
to the pillory if I let you through. They’ll chase me from service, and then
howwillIfeedmychildren?No,sir,Ican’t.Takeyourfrienddownfromthe
horseandputhimintheroominthebarbican.We’lldresshimandhe’lllast
outuntildawn,ifthat’shisfate.It’snotlongnow.”
“A dressing’s not enough.” The witcher ground his teeth. “We need a
healer,apriest,agifteddoctor—”
“Youwouldn’tbewakingupanyonelikethatatnightanyway,”saidthe
secondguard.“Themost we can do isseethatyoudon’thave to camp out
under the gateuntil dawn. It’s warm inthere and there’s somewhere toput
yourfriend;he’llfarebettertherethaninthesaddle.Comeon,letushelpyou
lowerhimfromthehorse.”
It was warm, stuffy and cozy in the room within the barbican. A fire
crackledmerrilyinthehearth,andbehinditacricketchirpedfiercely.
Threemensatattheheavysquaretablelaidwithjugsandplates.
“Forgive us for disturbing you, squires…” said the guard, holding
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Dandilionup. “I trust you won’tmind…Thisonehere is a knight, hmm…
Andtheotheroneiswounded,soIthought—”
“Youthoughtwell.”Oneofthementurnedhisslender,sharp,expressive
facetowardthemandgotup.“Herelayhimdownonthepallet.”
Themanwasanelf,liketheotheronesittingatthetable.Both,judging
by their clothes, which were a typicalmixture of humanandelvenfashion,
were elves who had settled and integrated. The third man, who looked the
eldest,washuman,aknight,judgingbythewayhewasdressedandbyhis
salt-and-pepperhair,cuttofitbeneathahelmet.
“I’m Chireadan,” the taller of the elves, with an expressive face,
introduced himself. As was usual with representatives of the Old People, it
wasdifficulttoguesshisage;hecouldhavebeentwentyoronehundredand
twenty.“ThisismycousinErrdil.AndthisnoblemanistheknightVratimir.”
“A nobleman,” muttered Geralt, but a closer look at the coat of arms
embroideredonhistunicshatteredhishopes:ashielddividedpercrossand
bearinggoldenlilieswascutdiagonallybyasilverbar.Vratimirwasnotonly
illegitimate but came from a mixed, human-nonhuman union. As a result,
althoughhewasentitledtouseacoatofarms,hecouldn’tconsiderhimselfa
true nobleman, and the privilege of crossing the city gate after dusk most
certainlywasn’textendedtohim.
“Unfortunately”—thewitchersscrutinydidnotescapetheelfsattention
—“we,too,havetoremainhereuntildawn.Thelawknowsnoexceptions,at
leastnotforthelikesofus.Weinviteyoutojoinourcompany,sirknight.”
“Geralt, of Rivia” the witcher introduced himself. “A witcher, not a
knight.”
“What’sthematterwithhim?”ChireadanindicatedDandilion,whomthe
guardshadlaidonapalletinthemeantime.“Itlookslikepoisoning.Ifitis
poisoning,thenIcanhelp.I’vegotsomegoodmedicinewithme.”
Geralt sat down, then quickly gave a guarded account of events at the
river.Theelveslookedateachother,andtheknightspatthroughhisteethand
frowned.
“Extraordinary,”Chireadanremarked.“Whatcouldithavebeen?”
“Adjinninabottle,”mutteredVratimir.“Likeafairytale—”
“Notquite.”GeraltindicatedDandilion,curleduponthepallet.“Idon’t
knowofanyfairytalethatendslikethis.”
“Thatpoorfellow’sinjuries,”saidChireadan,“areevidentlyofamagical
nature. I fear that my medicine will not be of much use. But I can at least
lessenhissuffering.Haveyoualreadygivenhimaremedy,Geralt?”
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“Apainkillingelixir.”
“Comeandhelpme.Youcanholdhisheadup.”
Dandiliongreedilydrankthemedicine,dilutedwithwine,chokedonhis
lastsip,wheezedandcoveredtheleatherpillowwithspittle.
“I know him,” Errdil said. “He’s Dandilion, the troubadour and poet. I
sawhimsingingatthecourtofKingEthaininCidarisonce.”
“Atroubadour,”repeatedChireadan,lookingatGeralt.“That’sbad.Very
bad. The musclesof his neckand throat are attacked.Changes in hisvocal
cordsarestartingtotakeplace.Thespell’sactionhastobehaltedassoonas
possibleotherwise…Thismightbeirreversible.”
“Thatmeans…Doesthatmeanhewon’tbeabletotalk?”
“Talk,yes.Maybe.Notsing.”
Geraltsatdownatthetablewithoutsayingawordandrestedhisforehead
onhisclenchedfists.
“A wizard,” said Vratimir. “A magical remedy or a curative spell is
needed.Youhavetotakehimtosomeothertown,witcher.”
“What?”Geraltraisedhishead.“Andhere,inRinde?Isn’tthereawizard
here?”
“MagiciansarehardtocomebyinthewholeofRedania,”saidtheknight.
“Isn’tthattrue?EversinceKingHeribertplacedanexorbitanttaxonspells,
magicianshaveboycottedthecapitalandthose townswhicharerigorousin
executingtheking’sedicts.AndthecouncilorsofRindearefamousfortheir
zealinthisrespect.Chireadan,Errdil,amIright?”
“Youare,”confirmedErrdil.“But…Chireadan,mayI?”
“Youhaveto,”saidChireadan,lookingatthewitcher.“There’snopoint
inmakingasecretofit;everyoneknowsanyway.There’sasorceressstaying
inthetownrightnow,Geralt.”
“Incognito,nodoubt?”
“Notvery.”Theelfsmiled.“Thesorceressinquestionissomethingofan
individualist. She’s ignoring both the boycott imposed on Rinde by the
CouncilofWizards,andthedispositionofthelocalcouncilors,andisdoing
rathersplendidlyoutofit:theboycottmeansthere’stremendousdemandfor
magicalserviceshereand,ofcourse,thesorceressisn’tpayinganylevies.”
“Andthetowncouncilputsupwithit?”
“Thesorceressisstayingwithamerchant,atradebrokerfromNovigrad,
who is also the honorary ambassador. Nobodycan touchher there.She has
asylum.”
“It’s more like house arrest than asylum,” corrected Errdil. “She’s just
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aboutimprisonedthere.Butshehasnoshortageofclients.Richclients.She
ostentatiously makes light of the councilors, holds balls and extravagant
parties—”
“Whilethecouncilorsarefurious,turnwhoevertheycanagainstherand
tarnishherreputationasbesttheycan,”Chireadancutin.“Theyspreadfoul
rumorsaboutherandhope,nodoubt,thattheNovigradhierarchywillforbid
themerchanttograntherasylum.”
“Idon’tlikemeddlinginthingslikethat,”mutteredGeralt,“butI’vegot
nochoice.What’sthemerchant-ambassadorsname?”
“BeauBerrant.”
ThewitcherthoughtthatChireadangrimacedashepronouncedthename.
“Ohwell,itreallyisyouronlyhope.Orrather,theonlyhopeforthatpoor
fellowmoaningonthebed.Butwhetherthesorceresswillwanttohelpyou…
Idon’tknow.”
“Be careful when you go there,” said Errdil. “The mayors spies are
watchingthehouse.Youknowwhattodoiftheystopyou.Moneyopensall
doors.”
“I’llgoassoonastheyopenthegates.What’sthesorceresscalled?”
GeraltthoughthedetectedaslightflushonChireadan’sexpressiveface.
Butitcouldhavebeentheglowfromthefireinthehearth.
“YenneferofVergerberg.”
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III
“My lord’s asleep,” repeated the doorman, looking down at Geralt.He was
tallerbyaheadandnearlytwiceasbroadintheshoulders.“Areyoudeaf,you
vagabond?Thelord’sasleep,Isaid.”
“Thenlethimsleep,”agreedthewitcher.“I’venotgotbusinesswithyour
lordbutwiththeladywhoisstayinghere.”
“Business,yousay.”Thedoorman,asitturnedout,wassurprisinglywitty
for someone of such stature and appearance. “Then go, you loiterer, to the
whorehousetosatisfyyourneed.Scram.”
Geralt unfastened the purse on his belt and, holding it by the straps,
weigheditinhispalm.
“Youwon’tbribeme,”theCerberussaidproudly.
“Idon’tintendto.”
Theporterwastoohugetohavethereflexeswhichwouldlethimdodge
orshieldhimselffromaquickblowgivenbyanordinaryman.Hedidn’teven
havetimetoblinkbeforethewitchersblowlanded.Theheavypursestruck
him in the temple with a metallic crash. He collapsed against the door,
grabbingtheframewithbothhands.Geralttorehimawayfromitwithakick
intheknee,shovedhimwithhisshoulderandfetchedhimanotherblowwith
thepurse. Thedoorman’seyesgrew hazyanddivergedin acomicalsquint,
and his legs folded under him like two penknives. The witcher, seeing the
strapping fellow moving, although almost unconscious, walloped him with
forceforthethirdtime,rightonthecrownofhishead.
“Money,”hemuttered,“opensalldoors.”
It was dark in the vestibule. A loud snoring camefrom the door on the
left.Thewitcherpeepedincarefully.Afatwoman,hernightdresshitchedup
aboveherhips,wasasleeponatumbledpallet,snoringandsnortingthrough
hernose.Itwasn’tthemostbeautifulsight.Geraltdraggedtheporterintothe
littleroomandclosedthedoor.
Ontherightwasanotherdoor,half-opened,andbehinditstonestepsled
down.Thewitcherwasabouttopassthemwhenanindistinctcurse,aclatter
andthedrycrashofavesselcrackingreachedhimfrombelow.
The room was a big kitchen, full of utensils, smelling of herbs and
resinous wood. On the stone floor, among fragments of a clay jug, knelt a
completelynakedmanwithhisheadhanginglow.
“Apple juice, bloody hell,” he mumbled, shaking his head like a sheep
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whichhadrammedawallbyamistake.“Apple…juice.Where…Where’re
theservants?”
“Ibegyourpardon?”thewitcheraskedpolitely.
The man raised hishead and swallowed. Hiseyes were vague andvery
bloodshot.
“She wants juice from apples,” he stated, then got up with evident
difficulty, sat down on a chest covered with a sheepskin coat, and leaned
againstthestove.“Ihaveto…takeitupstairsbecause—”
“DoIhavethepleasureofspeakingtothemerchantBeauBerrant?”
“Quieter.”Themangrimacedpainfully.“Don’tyell.Listen,inthatbarrel
there…Juice.Apple.Pouritintosomething…andhelp megetupstairs,all
right?”
Geralt shrugged, then nodded sympathetically. He generally avoided
overdoingthealcoholbutthestateinwhichthemerchantfoundhimselfwas
not entirely unknown to him. He found a jug and a tin mug among the
crockeryanddrewsomejuicefromthebarrel.Heheardsnoringandturned.
BeauBerrantwasfastasleep,hisheadhangingonhischest.
Foramoment,thewitcherconsideredpouringjuiceoverhimtowakehim
up, but he changed his mind. He left the kitchen, carrying the jug. The
corridor ended in a heavy inlaid door. He entered carefully, opening it just
enoughtoslipinside.Itwasdark,sohedilatedhispupils.Andwrinkledhis
nose.
A heavy smell of sour wine, candles and overripe fruit hung in the air.
Andsomethingelse,thatbroughttomindamixtureofthescentsoflilacand
gooseberries.
He looked around. The table in the middle of the chamber bore a
battlefield of jugs, carafes, goblets, silver plates, dishes and ivory-handled
cutlery. A creased tablecloth, which had been pushed aside, was soaked in
wine,coveredinpurplestainsandstiffwithwaxwhichhadtrickleddownthe
candlesticks.Orangepeelglowedlikeflowersamongplumandpeachstones,
pearcoresandgrapestalks.Agoblethadfallenoverandsmashed.Theother
wasinonepiece,halffull,withaturkeybonestickingoutofit.Nexttothe
gobletstoodablack,high-heeledslipper.Itwasmadeofbasiliskskin.There
wasn’tamoreexpensiverawmaterialwhichcouldbeusedinthemakingof
shoes.
Theotherslipperlayunderachairontopofacarelesslydiscardedblack
dresswithwhitefrillsandanembroideredflowerypattern.
ForamomentGeraltstoodundecided,strugglingwithembarrassmentand
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thedesiretoturnonhisheelandleave.Butthatwouldhavemeanthistussle
with the Cerberus below hadbeen unnecessary. And thewitcherdidn’tlike
doinganythingunnecessarily.Henoticedwindingstairsinthecornerofthe
chamber.
On the steps, he found four withered white roses and a napkin stained
with wine and crimson lipstick. The scent of lilac and gooseberries grew
stronger. The stairsledtoabedroom,thefloor of which was covered inan
enormous, shaggy animal skin. A white shirt with lace cuffs, and umpteen
whiteroses,layontheskin.Andablackstocking.
The other stocking hung from one of the four engraved posts which
supported the domed canopy over the bed. The engravings on the posts
depictednymphsandfawnsinvariouspositions.Someofthepositionswere
interesting.Othersfunny.Manyrepeatedthemselves.
Geralt cleared his throat loudly, looking at the abundant black locks
visiblefromundertheeiderdown.Theeiderdownmovedandmoaned.Geralt
clearedhisthroatevenlouder.
“Beau?” the abundance of black locks asked indistinctly. “Have you
broughtthejuice?”
“Yes.”
A pale triangular face, violet eyes and narrow, slightly contorted lips
appearedbeneaththeblacktresses.
“Ooooh…”Thelipsbecameevenmorecontorted.“Ooooh…I’mdyingof
thirst…”
“Hereyouare.”
The woman sat up, scrambling out of the bedclothes. She had pretty
shoulders, a shapelyneck and, aroundit, a black velvet choker with astar-
shaped jewel sparkling with diamonds. Apart from the choker, she had
nothingon.
“Thankyou.”Shetookthemugfromhishand,drankgreedily,thenraised
herarmsandtouchedhertemples.Theeiderdownslippeddownevenfurther.
Geraltavertedhiseyes—politely,butunwillingly.
“Whoare you?”askedtheblack-hairedwoman,narrowing hereyesand
coveringherselfwiththeeiderdown.“Whatareyoudoinghere?Andwhere,
dammit,isBerrant?”
“WhichquestionshallIanswerfirst?”
Heimmediatelyregrettedhissarcasm.Thewomanraisedherhandanda
goldenstreakshotoutfromherfingers.Geraltreactedinstinctively,crossing
bothhandsintheSignofHeliotrope,andcaughtthespelljustinfrontofhis
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face,butthedischargewassostrongthatitthrewhimbackagainstthewall.
Hesanktothefloor.
“No need!” he shouted, seeing the woman raise her hand again. “Lady
Yennefer!Icomeinpeace,withnoevilintentions!”
A stamping came from the stairs and servants loomed in the bedroom
doorway.
“LadyYennefer!”
“Leave,”thesorceressorderedcalmly.“Idon’tneedyou.You’repaidto
keep an eye on the house. But since this individual has, nevertheless,
managedtogetin,I’lltakecareofhimmyself.PassthatontoBerrant.And
prepareabathforme.”
The witcher got up with difficulty. Yennefer observed him in silence,
narrowinghereyes.
“You parried my spell,” she finally said. “You’re not a sorcerer; that’s
obvious. But you reacted exceptionally fast. Tell me who you are, stranger
whohascomeinpeace.AndIadviseyoutospeakquickly.”
“I’mGeraltofRivia.Awitcher.”
Yenneferleanedoutofthebed,graspingafaun—engravedonthepole—
byapieceofanatomywelladaptedtobeinggrasped.Withouttakinghereyes
offGeralt,shepickedacoatwithafurcollarupoffthe floor and wrapped
herselfupinittightlybeforegettingup.Shepouredherselfanothermugof
juicewithouthurrying, drank itinonego, coughed andcamecloser.Geralt
discreetlyrubbedhislowerbackwhich,amomentago,hadcollidedpainfully
withthewall.
“Geralt of Rivia,” repeated the sorceress, looking at him from behind
blacklashes.“Howdidyougetinhere?Andforwhatreason?Youdidn’thurt
Berrant,Ihope?”
“No.Ididn’t.LadyYennefer,Ineedyourhelp.”
“Awitcher,”shemuttered,comingupevencloserandwrappingthecoat
aroundhermoretightly.“NotonlyisitthefirstoneI’veseenupclosebutit’s
noneotherthanthefamousWhiteWolf.I’veheardaboutyou.”
“Icanimagine.”
“I don’t know what you can imagine.” She yawned, then came even
closer. “May I?” She touched his cheek and looked him in the eyes. He
clenched his jaw. “Do your pupils automatically adapt to light or can you
narrowanddilatethemaccordingtoyourwill?”
“Yennefer,”hesaidcalmly,“IrodenonstopalldayfromRinde.Iwaited
allnightforthegatestoopen.Igaveyourdoorman,whodidn’twanttolet
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mein, a blow to the head. I disturbedyour sleep andpeace, discourteously
andimportunately.Allbecausemyfriendneedshelpwhichonlyyoucangive
him.Giveittohim,please,andthen,ifyoulike,wecantalkaboutmutations
andaberrations.”
She took a step back and contorted herlips unpleasantly. “Whatsort of
helpdoyoumean?”
“Theregenerationoforgansinjuredthroughmagic.Thethroat,larynxand
vocalcords.Aninjurycausedbyascarletmist.Orsomethingverymuchlike
it.”
“Very much like it,” she repeated. “To put it in a nutshell, it wasn’t a
scarletmistwhichhasinjuredyourfriend.Sowhatwasit?Speakout.Being
tornfrommysleepatdawn,Ihaveneitherthestrengthnorthedesiretoprobe
yourbrain.”
“Hmm…It’sbestIstartfromthebeginning.”
“Oh,no,”sheinterruptedhim.“Ifit’sallthatcomplicated,thenwait.An
aftertaste in my mouth, disheveled hair, sticky eyes and other morning
inconveniencesstronglyaffectmyperceptivefaculties.Godownstairstothe
bath-chamber in the cellar. I’ll be therein a minuteandthen you’ll tell me
everything.”
“Yennefer,Idon’twanttobepersistentbuttimeispressing.Myfriend—”
“Geralt,” she interrupted sharply, “I climbed out of bed for you and I
didn’t intend to do that before the chime of midday. I’m prepared to do
without breakfast. Do you know why? Because you brought me the apple
juice. You were in a hurry, your head was troubled with your friend’s
suffering, you forced your way in here, and yet you thought of a thirsty
woman.Youwonmeover,somyhelpisnotoutofthequestion.ButIwon’t
doanythingwithouthotwaterandsoap.Go.Please.”
“Verywell.”
“Geralt.”
“Yes.”Hestoppedonthethreshold.
“Makeuseoftheopportunitytohaveabathyourself.Icannotonlyguess
theageandbreedofyourhorse,butalsoitscolor,bythesmell.”
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IV
Sheenteredthebath-chamberjustasGeralt,sittingnakedonatinystool,was
pouringwateroverhimselffromabucket.Heclearedhisthroatandmodestly
turnedhisbacktoher.
“Don’tbeembarrassed,”shesaid,throwinganarmfulofclothingonthe
hook.“Idon’tfaintatthesightofanakedman.TrissMerigold,afriend,says
ifyou’veseenone,you’veseenthemall.”
Hegotup,wrappingatowelroundhiships.
“Beautifulscar.”Shesmiled,lookingathischest.“Whatwasit?Didyou
fallunderthebladeinasawmill?”
Hedidn’tanswer.Thesorceresscontinuedtoobservehim,tiltingherhead
coquettishly.
“Thefirst witcher I can look at from close up,and completely naked at
that.Aha!”She leanedover,listening.“Ican hearyourheartbeat. It’svery
slow.Canyoucontrolhowmuchadrenalinyousecrete?Oh,forgivememy
professionalcuriosity. Apparently, you’re touchy about the qualitiesofyour
ownbody.You’rewonttodescribethesequalitiesusingwordswhichIgreatly
dislike, lapsing into pompous sarcasm with it, something I dislike even
more.”
Hedidn’tanswer.
“Well,enoughofthat.Mybathisgettingcold.”Yennefermovedasifshe
wantedtodiscardhercoat,thenhesitated.“I’lltakemybathwhileyoutalk,to
savetime.ButIdon’twanttoembarrassyouand,besides,wehardly know
eachother.Sothen,takingdecencyintoaccount—”
“I’llturnaround,”heproposedhesitantly.
“No.IhavetoseetheeyesofthepersonI’mtalkingto.I’vegotabetter
idea.”
Heheardanincantationbeingrecited,felthismedallionquiverandsaw
theblackcoatsoftlysliptothefloor.Thenheheardthewatersplashing.
“NowIcan’tseeyoureyes,Yennefer,”hesaid.“Andthat’sapity.”
Theinvisiblesorceresssnortedandsplashedinthetub.“Goon.”
Geralt finished struggling with his trousers, pulling them on under his
towel,andsatonthebench.Bucklinguphisboots,herelatedtheadventure
bytheriver,cuttingoutmostoftheskirmishwiththecatfish.Yenneferdidn’t
seemthetypetobeinterestedinfishing.
Whenhegottothepartwherethecloud-creatureescapedfromthejar,the
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hugesoapyspongefroze.
“Well,well,”heheard,“that’sinteresting.Adjinninabottle.”
“Nodjinn,”hecontested.“Itwassomevariantofscarletmist.Somenew,
unknowntype—”
“The new and unknown typedeservesto be called something,” said the
invisible Yennefer. “The name djinn is no worse than any other. Continue,
please.”
He obeyed. The soapin the tub foamedrelentlessly as he continuedhis
tale, and the water overflowed. Something caught his eye. Looking more
carefullyhediscernedoutlinesandshapesrevealedbythesoapcoveringthe
invisibleYennefer.Theyfascinatedhimtotheextentthathewasstruckdumb.
“Go on!” a voice coming from nothingness, from above the outlines
whichsoabsorbedhim,urged.“Whathappenednext?”
“That’sall,”hesaid.“Ichasedhimaway,thatdjinn,asyoucallhim—”
“How?”The ladleroseand pouredwater.Thesoap vanished,asdid the
shapes.
Geraltsighed.“Withanincantation,”hesaid.“Anexorcism.”
“Whichone?”Theladlepouredwateroncemore.Thewitcherstartedto
observe the ladle’s action more diligently because the water, albeit briefly,
alsorevealedthisandthat.Herepeatedtheincantation,substitutingthevowel
“e” with an intake of breath, according to the safety rule. He thought he’d
impressthesorceressbyknowingtherulesohewassurprisedwhenheheard
laughtercomingfromthetub.
“What’ssofunny?”
“That exorcism of yours…” The towel flew off its peg and suddenly
begantowipetherestoftheoutlines.“Trissisgoingtokillherselflaughing
whenItellher.Whotaughtyouthat,witcher?Thatincantation?”
“ApriestessfromHuldra’ssanctuary.It’sasecretlanguageofthetemple
—”
“Secret to some.” The towel slapped against the brim of the tub, water
sprayedontothefloorandwetfootprintsmarkedthesorceress’ssteps.“That
wasn’tanincantation,Geralt.NorwouldIadviseyoutorepeatthosewordsin
othertemples.”
“What was it, if not an incantation?” he asked, watching two black
stockingsoutlineshapelylegs,oneaftertheother.
“A witty saying.” Frilly knickers clung to nothing in an unusually
interestingmanner.“Ifratherindecent.”
Awhiteshirtwithanenormousflower-shapedruffleflutteredupwardand
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outlined Yennefers body. She didn’t, the witcher noticed, bother with the
whalebonenonsenseusuallywornbywomen.Shedidn’thaveto.
“Whatsaying?”heasked.
“Nevermind.”
The cork sprang from a rectangular crystal bottle standing on the stool.
Thebath-chamberstartedtosmelloflilacandgooseberries.Thecorktraced
severalcirclesandjumpedbackintoplace.Thesorceressfastenedthecuffsof
hershirt,pulledonadressandmaterialized.
“Fastenmeup.”Sheturnedherbacktohimwhilecombingherhairwitha
tortoiseshellcomb.Henoticedthatthecombhadalong,sharpprongwhich
could,ifneedbe,easilytaketheplaceofadagger.
Hetookadeliberatelylongtimefasteningherdress,onehookatatime,
enjoyingthescentofherhair,whichfellhalfwaydownherbackinablack
cascade.
“Going back to the bottle creature,” said Yennefer, putting diamond
earrings in her ears, “it’s obvious that it wasn’t your funny incantation that
drove him away. The hypothesis that he discharged his fury on your friend
andleftseemsclosertothetruth.”
“Probably,”Geraltagreed,gloomily.“Idon’tthinkheflewofftoCidaris
todoawaywithValdoMarx.”
“Who’sValdoMarx?”
“Atroubadourwhoconsidersmycompanion,alsoapoetandmusician,a
talentlesswastrelwhopanderstothetasteofthemasses.”
Thesorceressturnedroundwithastrangeglimmerinhereyes.“Couldit
bethatyourfriendmanagedtoexpressawish?”
“Two.Bothstupid.Whydoyouask?Thisfulfillingofwishesbygeniesis
nonsense,afterall,djinns,spiritsofthelamp—”
“Clearly nonsense,” repeated Yennefer with a smile. “Of course. It’s an
invention,afairytaledevoidofanysense,likeallthelegendsinwhichgood
spiritsandfortunetellersfulfillwishes.Storieslikethataremadeupbypoor
simpletons, who can’t even dream of fulfilling their wishes and desires
themselves.I’mpleasedyou’renotoneofthem,GeraltofRivia.Itmakesyou
closerinspirittome.IfIwantsomething,Idon’tdreamofit—Iact.AndI
alwaysgetwhatIwant.”
“Idon’tdoubtit.Areyouready?”
“I am.” The sorceress finished fastening the straps of her slippers and
stoodup.Eveninhighheels,shewasn’timpressivelytall.Sheshookherhair
which,hefound,hadretaineditspicturesque,disheveledandcurlingdisarray
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despitethefuriouscombing.
“I’vegotaquestion,Geralt.Thesealwhichclosedthebottle…Hasyour
friendstillgotit?”
Thewitcherreflected.Hehadtheseal,notDandilion.Butexperiencehad
taughthimthatsorcerersshouldn’tbetoldtoomuch.
“Hmm… I think so.” He deceived her as to the reason for his delay in
replying.“Yes,heprobablydoes.Why?Isthesealimportant?”
“That’s a strange question,” she said sharply, “for a witcher and a
specialist in supernatural monstrosities. Someone who ought to know that
such a seal is important enough not to touch. And not to let their friend
touch.”
Heclenchedhisjaw.Theblowwaswellaimed.
“Oh,well.”Yenneferchangedhertonetoamuchgentlerone.“Noone’s
infallibleandnowitchersinfallible,aswesee.Everyonecanmakeamistake.
Well,wecangetitonourway.Where’syourcomrade?”
“Here,inRinde.AtErrdil’s.Theelfs.”
Shelookedathimcarefully.
“AtErrdil’s?”sherepeated,contortingherlipsinasmile.“Iknowwhere
thatis.AndIgatherhiscousinChireadanistheretoo?”
“That’sright.Butwhat—?”
“Nothing,”sheinterrupted,raisedherarmsandclosedhereyes.
Themedallionaroundthewitchersneckpulsed,tuggedatthechain.
On the damp bath-chamber wall shone the luminous outline of a door
which framed a swirling phosphorescent milky nothingness. The witcher
cursed.Hedidn’tlikemagicalportals,ortravelingbythem.
“Dowehaveto…”Heclearedhisthroat.“It’snotfar—”
“Ican’twalkthestreetsofthistown,”shecuthimshort.“They’renottoo
crazy about me here. They might insult me and throw stones—or do
somethingworse. Severalpeopleare effectivelyruiningmyreputation here,
thinkingtheycangetawaywithit.Don’tworry,myportalsaresafe.”
Geralthadoncewatchedasonly half a traveler using a safe portal flew
through. The other half was never found. He knew of several cases where
peoplehadenteredaportalandneverbeenseenagain.
Thesorceressadjustedherhairagainandpinnedapearl-embossedpurse
toherbelt.Thepurselookedtoosmalltoholdanythingotherthanahandful
ofcoppersandalipstick,butGeraltknewitwasnoordinarypurse.
“Holdme.Tighter.I’mnotmadeofchina.Onourway!”
The medallion vibrated, something flashed and Geralt suddenly found
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himselfinblacknothingness,inpenetratingcold.Hecouldn’tsee,hearorfeel
anything.Coldwasallthathissensescouldregister.
Hewantedtocurse,butdidn’thavetime.
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V
“It’sanhoursinceshewentin.”Chireadanturnedoverthehourglassstanding
on the table. “I’m starting to get worried. Was Dandilion’s throat really so
bad?Don’tyouthinkweoughttogoandhavealook?”
“She made itquite clear that shedidn’twant us to.” Geraltfinished his
mugofherbtea,grimacingdreadfully.Hevaluedandlikedthesettledelves
for their intelligence, calm reserve and sense of humor, but he couldn’t
understandorsharetheirtasteinfoodordrink.“Idon’tintendtodisturbher,
Chireadan. Magic requires time. It can take all day and night, as long as
Dandiliongetsbetter.”
“Ohwell,you’reright.”
Asoundofhammeringcamefromtheroomnextdoor.Errdil,asitturned
out, lived in a deserted inn whichhe had bought intending to renovate and
thenopenwithhiswife,aquiet,taciturnelf.Vratimir,whohadtakentotheir
companyafteranightspentwiththeelvesintheguardroom,volunteeredto
helpwiththerepairs.Hegotdowntorenovatingthewoodpaneling,working
alongsidethemarriedcouple,assoonastheconfusioncreatedbythewitcher
andYenneferleapingthroughthewallintheflashofaportalhadsubsided.
“Ididn’tthinkyou’dfinditsoeasy,ifI’mtobehonest,”Chireadanwent
on. “Yennefer isn’t the most spontaneous of people when it comes to help.
Others’troublesdon’tparticularlybotherher,anddon’tdisturbhersleep.Ina
word,I’veneverheardofherhelpinganyoneiftherewasn’tsomethinginit
forher.Iwonderwhat’sinitforhertohelpyouandDandilion.”
“Aren’tyouexaggerating?”Thewitchersmiled.“Ididn’thavesuchabad
impression of her. She likes to demonstrate her superiority, it’s true, but
comparedwithotherwizards,withthatwholearrogantbunch,she’swalking
charmandkindlinesspersonified.”
Chireadanalsosmiled.“It’salmostasthoughyouthoughtascorpionwere
prettierthanaspider,”hesaid,“becauseit’sgotsuchalovelytail.Becareful,
Geralt.You’renotthefirsttohavejudgedherlikethatwithoutknowingshe’s
turned her charmand beauty into weapons.Weapons she uses skilfully and
without scruple. Which, of course, doesn’t change the fact that she’s a
fascinatingandgood-lookingwoman.Youwouldn’tdisagree,wouldyou?”
Geralt glanced keenly at the elf. For a second time, he thought he saw
tracesofablushonhisface.ItsurprisedhimnolessthanChireadan’swords.
Pure-blooded elves were not wont to admire human women, even the very
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beautiful ones, and Yennefer, although attractive in her own way, couldn’t
passasagreatbeauty.
Each to their own taste but, in actual fact, not many would describe
sorceresses as good-looking. Indeed, all of them came from social circles
where the only fate for daughters would be marriage. Who would have
thought of condemning their daughter to years of tedious studies and the
tortures of somatic mutations if she could be given away in marriage and
advantageously allied? Who wished to have a sorceress in their family?
Despitetherespectenjoyedbymagicians,asorceress’sfamilydidnotbenefit
fromherintheleastbecausebythetimethegirlhadcompletedhereducation,
nothing tied her to her family anymore—only brotherhood counted, to the
exclusionofallelse.Soonlydaughterswithnochanceoffindingahusband
becomesorceresses.
Unlike priestesses and druidesses, who only unwillingly took ugly or
crippled girls, sorcerers took anyone who showed evidence of a
predisposition. If the child passed the first years of training, magic entered
intotheequation—straighteningandeveningoutlegs,repairingboneswhich
had badly knitted, patching harelips, removing scars, birthmarks and pox
scars.The young sorceress would become attractive because the prestige of
her profession demanded it. The result was pseudo-pretty women with the
angryandcoldeyesofuglygirls.Girlswhocouldn’tforgettheiruglinesshad
beencoveredbythemaskofmagiconlyfortheprestigeoftheirprofession.
No,Geraltcouldn’tunderstandChireadan.Hiseyes,theeyesofawitcher,
registeredtoomanydetails.
“No, Chireadan,” he answered. “I wouldn’t disagree. Thank you for the
warning. But this only concerns Dandilion. He suffered at my side, in my
presence. I didn’tmanage tosave himand Icouldn’thelp him. I’d sit on a
scorpionwithmybarebacksideifIknewitwouldhelphim.”
“That’s precisely what you’ve got to beware of most.” The elf smiled
enigmatically.“BecauseYenneferknowsitandshelikestomakethemostof
suchknowledge.Don’ttrusther,Geralt.She’sdangerous.”
Hedidn’tanswer.
Upstairs,thedoor squeaked. Yennefer stood atthestairs,leaning on the
gallerybalustrade.
“Witcher,couldyoucomehere?”
“Ofcourse.”
Thesorceress leanedherbackagainstthedoorofone ofthefew rooms
withfurniture,wheretheyhadputthesufferingtroubadour.
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The witcher approached, watchful and silent. He saw her left shoulder,
slightlyhigherthanherright.Hernose,slightlytoolong.Herlips,atouchtoo
narrow.Herchin,recedingalittletoomuch.Herbrowsalittletooirregular.
Hereyes…
Hesawtoomanydetails.Quiteunnecessarily.
“How’sDandilion?”
“Doyoudoubtmycapabilities?”
Hecontinuedwatching.Shehadthefigureofatwenty-year-old,although
hepreferrednottoguessatherrealage.Shemovedwithnatural,unaffected
grace.No,therewasnowayofguessingwhatshehadbeenlikebefore,what
hadbeenimproved.Hestoppedthinkingaboutit;therewasn’tanysense.
“Your talented friend will be well,” she said. “He’ll recover his vocal
talents.”
“Youhavemygratitude,Yennefer.”
Shesmiled.“You’llhaveanopportunitytoproveit.”
“CanIlookinonhim?”
Sheremainedsilentforamoment,watchinghimwithastrangesmileand
drummingherfingersonthedoorframe.“Ofcourse.Goin.”
The medallion on the witchers neck started to quiver, sharply and
rhythmically.
Aglassspherethesizeofasmallwatermelon,aflamewithamilkylight,
layinthecenterofthefloor.Thespheremarkedtheheartofapreciselytraced
nine-pointed star whose arms reached the corners and walls of the small
chamber. A red pentagram was inscribed within the star. The tips of the
pentagramweremarkedbyblackcandlesstandinginweirdlyshapedholders.
Black candles had also been lit at the head of the bed where Dandilion,
coveredwithsheepskins,rested.Thepoetwasbreathingpeacefully;hedidn’t
wheezeorraspanymoreandtherictusofpainhaddisappearedfromhisface,
tobereplacedbyanidioticsmileofhappiness.
“He’sasleep,”saidYennefer.“Anddreaming.”
Geraltexaminedthepatternstracedonthefloor.Themagichiddenwithin
themwaspalpable,butheknewitwasadormantmagic.Itbroughttomind
thepurrofasleepinglion,withoutsuggestinghowtheroarmightsound.
“Whatisthis,Yennefer?”
“Atrap.”
“Forwhat?”
“Foryou, for the time being.” The sorceress turned thekey in thelock,
thenturneditoverinherhand.Thekeydisappeared.
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“And thus I’m trapped,” he said coldly. “What now? Are you going to
assaultmyvirtue?”
“Don’tflatter yourself.”Yennefersat ontheedge ofthebed. Dandilion,
stillsmilinglikeamoron,groanedquietly.Itwas,withoutadoubt,agroanof
bliss.
“What’sthisallabout,Yennefer?Ifit’sagame,Idon’tknowtherules.”
“Itoldyou,”shebegan,“thatIalwaysgetwhatIwant.Asithappens,I
desire something that Dandilion has. I’ll get it from him and we can part
ways.Don’tworry,hewon’tcometoanyharm—”
“Thethingsyou’vesetonthefloor,”heinterrupted,“areusedtosummon
demons. Someone always comes to harm where demons are summoned. I
won’tallowit.”
“—not a hair of his head will be harmed,” continued the sorceress,
without paying any attention to his words. “His voice will be even more
beautifulandhe’llbeverypleased,evenhappy.We’llallbehappy.Andwe’ll
partwithnoillfeelingsorresentment.”
“Oh, Virginia,” moaned Dandilion without opening his eyes. “Your
breastsaresobeautiful,moredelicatethanaswan’sdown…Virginia…”
“Hashelosthismind?Isheraving?”
“He’sdreaming.”Yennefersmiled.“Hisdreamwishisbeingsatisfiedin
hissleep.Iprobedhismindtotheverydepths.Therewasn’tmuchthere.A
fewobscenities,severaldreamsandmassesofpoetry.Butbethatasitmay.
Theseal whichpluggedthebottlewith thedjinn,Geralt,Iknowhedoesn’t
haveit.Youdo.Pleasegiveittome.”
“Whatdoyouneedthesealfor?”
“HowshouldIansweryourquestion?”Thesorceresssmiledcoquettishly.
“Let’strythis:it’snoneofyourdamnedbusiness,witcher.Doesthatsatisfy
you?”
“No.” His smile was equally nasty. “It doesn’t. But don’t reproach
yourselfforit,Yennefer.I’mnoteasilysatisfied.Onlythosewhoareabove
averagehavemanagedsofar.”
“Pity.Soyou’llremainunsatisfied.It’syourloss.Theseal,please.Don’t
pullthatface; itdoesn’tsuiteither yourgoodlooksor your complexion.In
caseyouhadn’tnoticed,letmetellyouthatyouarenowbeginningtorepay
thegratitudeyouoweme.Thesealisthefirstinstallmentforthepricetobe
paidforthesingersvoice.”
“Iseeyou’vedividedthepriceintoseveralinstallments,”hesaidcoldly.
“Fine.Imighthaveexpectedthat.Butletitbeafairtrade,Yennefer.Ibought
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yourhelp.AndI’llpay.”
Shecontortedherlipsinasmile,buthervioleteyesremainedwideopen
andcold.
“Youshouldn’thaveanydoubtsastothat,witcher.”
“Me,”herepeated.“NotDandilion.I’mtakinghimtoasafeplace.When
I’ve done that, I’ll come back and pay your second installment, andall the
others.Becauseastothefirst…”
Hereachedinto asecretpocketof hisbeltandpulled outthebrassseal
withthesignofastarandbrokencross.
“Here,takeit.Notasaninstallment.Acceptitfromawitcherasproofof
his gratitude for having treated him more kindly, albeit in a calculated
manner, than the majority of your brethren would have done. Accept it as
evidenceof goodwill,whichought toconvinceyouthat,havingseentomy
friend’s safety, I’llreturnto repay you. Ididn’tsee the scorpion amidstthe
flowers,Yennefer.I’mpreparedtopayformyinattention.”
“A pretty speech.” The sorceress folded her arms. “Touching and
pompous.Pityit’sinvain.IneedDandilion,sohe’sstayinghere.”
“He’salreadybeenclosetothecreatureyouintendtodrawhere.”Geralt
indicated the patterns on the floor. “When you’ve finished your handiwork
andbroughtthedjinnhere,Dandilionismostcertainlygoingtosufferdespite
all your promises, maybe even more than before. Because it’s the creature
fromthebottlethatyouwant,isn’tit?Doyouintendtomasterit,forceitto
serve you? You don’t have to answer. I know it’s none of my damned
business. Do what you want, draw ten demons in if you like. But without
Dandilion. If you put him at risk, this will no longer be an honest trade,
Yennefer,andyoudon’thavetherighttodemandpaymentforthat.Iwon’t
allow—”Hebrokeoff.
“Iwonderedwhenyou’dfeelit,”giggledthesorceress.
Geralttensedhismusclesand,clenchinghisjawuntilithurt,strainedhis
entire will. It didn’t help.He was paralyzed,like astone statue, like apost
whichhadbeendugintotheground.Hecouldn’tevenwiggleatoe.
“Iknewyoucoulddeflectaspellthrownstraightatyou,”saidYennefer.
“Ialsoknewthatbeforeyoutriedanything,you’dtrytoimpressmewithyour
eloquence.You were talking whilethespellhanging over you wasworking
and slowly breaking you. Now you can only talk. But you don’t have to
impress me anymore. I know you’re eloquent. Any further efforts in that
directionwillonlyspoiltheeffect.”
“Chireadan—”hesaidwithaneffort,stillfightingthemagicalparalysis.
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“Chireadanwillrealizethatyou’re upto something.He’llsoonworkitout,
suspect something any minutenow, becausehedoesn’ttrust you,Yennefer.
Hehasn’ttrustedyoufromthestart—”
Thesorceresssweptherhandinabroadgesture.Thewallsofthechamber
became blurred and tookon a uniform dullgray appearance and color. The
door disappeared, the windows disappeared, even the dusty curtains and
picturesonthewall,splatteredwithflies,vanished.
“WhatifChireadandoesfigureitout?”Shegrimacedmaliciously.“Ishe
goingtorunforhelp?Nobodywillgetthroughmybarrier.ButChireadan’s
notgoingtorunanywhere.Hewon’tdoanythingagainstme.Anything.He’s
undermyspell.No,it’snotaquestionofblacksorcery.Ididn’tdoanythingin
that way. It’s a simple question ofbody chemistry. He’s fallen inlove with
me,theblockhead.Didn’tyouknow?Canyouimagine,heevenintendedto
challengeBeautoaduel.Ajealouself.Thatrarelyhappens.Geralt,it’snot
fornothingthatIchosethishouse.”
“Beau Berrant, Chireadan, Errdil, Dandilion. You really are heading for
yourgoal asstraightasyoucan.Butme,Yennefer,you’re notgoingto use
me.”
“OhIam,Iam.”Thesorceressgotupfromthebedandapproachedhim,
carefullyavoidingthesignsandsymbolsmarkedoutonthefloor.“Afterall,I
didsaythatyouowemesomethingforcuringthepoet.It’samatterofatrifle,
asmallfavor.AfterwhatI’vedone,whatIintendtodohereinamoment,I’m
leavingRindeandI’vestillgotunpaidaccountsinthistown.I’vepromised
severalpeopleheresomething,andIalwayskeepmypromises.SinceIwon’t
havetimetodosomyself,you’llkeepthosepromisesforme.”
Hewrestledwithallhismight.Invain.
“Don’tstruggle, mylittlewitcher.”Shesmiledspitefully.“It’spointless.
You’vegotastrongwillandquiteabitofresistancetomagicbutyoucan’t
contendwithmeandmyspell.Anddon’tactoutafarceforme;don’ttryto
charmmewithyourhardand insolent masculinity. You are the only one to
think you’re insolent and hard. You’d do anything for me in order to save
yourfriend,evenwithoutspellsatthat.You’dpayanyprice.You’dlickmy
boots. And maybe something else, too, if I unexpectedly wished to amuse
myself.”
He remained silent. Yennefer was standing in front ofhim, smiling and
fiddlingwiththeobsidianstarsparklingwithdiamondspinnedtohervelvet
ribbon.
“Ialreadyknewwhatyouwerelike,”shecontinued,“afterexchanginga
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fewwordswithyouinBeau’sbedroom.AndIknewwhatformofpayment
I’d demand from you. My accounts in Rinde could be settled by anyone,
including Chireadan. But you’re the one who’s going to do it because you
havetopayme.Foryourinsolence,forthecoldwayyoulookatme,forthe
eyes which fish for every detail, for your stony face and sarcastic tone of
voice. For thinking that you could stand face-to-face with Yennefer of
Vergerberg and believe her to be full of self-admiration and arrogance, a
calculatingwitch,whilestaringathersoapytits.Payup,GeraltofRivia!”
Shegrabbedhishairwithbothhandsandkissedhimviolentlyonthelips,
sinking her teeth into them like a vampire. The medallion on his neck
quiveredanditfelttoGeraltasifthechainwasshrinkingandstranglinghim.
Something blazed in his head while a terrible humming filled his ears. He
stoppedseeingthesorceress’svioleteyesandfellintodarkness.
Hewaskneeling.Yenneferwastalkingtohiminagentle,softvoice.
“Youremember?”
“Yes,mylady.”Itwashisownvoice.
“Sogoandcarryoutmyinstructions.”
“Atyourcommand,mylady.”
“Youmaykissmyhand.”
“Thankyou,mylady.”
Hefelthimselfapproachheronhisknees.Tenthousandbeesbuzzedin
hishead.Herhandsmeltoflilacandgooseberries.Lilacandgooseberries…
Lilacandgooseberries…Aflash.Darkness.
Abalustrade,stairs.Chireadan’sface.
“Geralt!What’sthematterwithyou?Geralt,whereareyougoing?”
“Ihaveto…”Hisownvoice.“Ihavetogo—”
“Oh,gods!Lookathiseyes!”
Vratimirs face, contorted with horror. Errdil’s face. And Chireadan’s
voice.
“No!Errdil!Don’ttouchhim!Don’ttrytostophim!Outofhisway—get
outofhisway!”
Thescentoflilacandgooseberries.Lilacandgooseberries…
Adoor.Theexplosionofsunlight.It’shot.Humid.Thescentoflilacand
gooseberries.There’sgoingtobeastorm,hethought.
Andthatwashislastthought.
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236
VI
Darkness.Thescent…
Scent?No,smell.Stenchofurine,rottenstrawandwetrags.Thestinkof
asmolderingtorchstuckintoanirongripsetinawallofunevenstoneblocks.
A shadow thrown by thelight of the torch, a shadow onthe dirt floor—the
shadowofagrille.
Thewitchercursed.
“Atlast.”Hefeltsomeonelifthimup,resthisbackagainstthedampwall.
“Iwasbeginningtoworry,youdidn’tregainconsciousnessforsolong.”
“Chireadan?Where—dammit,myhead’ssplitting—wherearewe?”
“Wheredoyouthink?”
Geraltwipedhisfaceandlookedaround.Threeroguesweresittingbythe
oppositewall.Hecouldn’tseethemclearly;theyweresittingasfarfromthe
torch light as possible,innear complete darkness. Somethingwhichlooked
likeaheapofragscrouchedunderthegrillewhichseparatedthemfromthelit
corridor.Itwas,infact,athinoldmanwith anose likeastork’sbeak.The
lengthof hismattedstringyhairand thestateofhisclothesshowedthathe
hadn’tarrivedyesterday.
“They’vethrownusinthedungeon,”hesaidgloomily.
“I’mgladyou’veregainedyourabilitytodrawlogicalconclusions,”said
theelf.
“Bloodyhell…AndDandilion?Howlonghavewebeenhere?Howmuch
timehasgonebysince—?”
“I don’t know. I was unconscious, just like you, when I was thrown in
here.” Chireadan raked up the straw to sit more comfortably. “Is it
important?”
“And how, dammit! Yennefer—And Dandilion—Dandilion’s there, with
her,andshe’splanning—Hey,you!Howlonghavewebeeninhere?”
Theotherprisonerswhisperedamongthemselves.Nonereplied.
“Haveyougonedeaf?”Geraltspat,stillunabletogetridofthemetallic
tasteinhismouth.“I’maskingyou,whattimeofdayisit?Ornight?Surely
youknowwhattimetheyfeedyou?”
Theymutteredagain,clearedtheirthroats.“Sirs,”saidoneofthematlast.
“Leave us in peace and don’t talk to us. We be decent thieves, not some
politicals.Wedidn’ttrytoattacktheauthorities.Wewasonlystealing.”
“Thatbeit,”saidanother.“You’veyourcorner,we’veours.Andleteach
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lookafterhisown.”
Chireadansnorted.Thewitcherspat.
“That’s the wayitgoes,” mumbled the hairyold manwitha long nose.
“Everyoneintheclinkguardshisowncornerandholdswithhisown.”
“Andyou,oldman,”askedtheelfsneeringly,“areyouwiththemorwith
us?Whichcampdoyoucountyourselfin?”
“None,”heansweredproudly,“becauseI’minnocent.”
Geralt spat again. “Chireadan?” he asked, rubbing his temple. “This
attemptontheauthorities…Isittrue?”
“Absolutely.Youdon’tremember?”
“Iwalkedoutintothestreet…Peoplewerelookingatme…Then…Then
therewasashop—”
“A pawnbrokers.” The elf lowered his voice. “You went into the
pawnbrokers.Assoonasyouwalkedin,youpunchedtheownerintheteeth.
Hard.Veryhard.”
Thewitchergroundhisteethandcursed.
“The pawnbroker fell,” Chireadan continued quietly. “And you kicked
himseveraltimesindelicateplaces.Theassistantrantohelphismasterand
youthrewhimoutofthewindow,intothestreet.”
“Ifear,”mutteredGeralt,“thatwasn’ttheendofit.”
“Your fears are well founded. You left the pawnbrokers and marched
downthecenterofthestreet,jostlingpassersbyandshoutingsomenonsense
aboutalady’shonor.Therewasquiteacrowdfollowingyou,Errdil,Vratimir
andIamongthem.ThenyoustoppedinfrontofLaurelnosetheapothecary’s
house, went in, and were back in the street a moment later, dragging
Laurelnosebytheleg.Andyoumadesomethingofaspeechtothecrowd.”
“Whatsortofaspeech?”
“Toputitsimply,youstatedthataself-respectingmanshouldn’tevercall
aprofessionalharlotawhorebecauseit’sbaseandrepugnant,whileusingthe
word whore to describe a woman one has never knocked off or paid any
money for doing so, is childish and punishable. The punishment, you
announced,wouldbedealtthereandthen,anditwouldbefittingforaspoilt
child. You thrustthe apothecary’s head between hisknees, pulled downhis
pantsandthrashedhisarsewithabelt.”
“Goon,Chireadan.Goon.Don’tspareme.”
“You beat Laurelnose on the backside and the apothecary howled and
sobbed, called to gods and men alike for help, begged for mercy—he even
promisedtobebetterinthefuture,butyouclearlydidn’tbelievehim.Then
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severalarmedbandits,whoinRindegobythenameofguards,camerunning
up.”
“And”—Geraltnodded—“that’swhenImadeahitattheauthorities?”
“Notatall.Youmadeahitatthemmuchearlier.Boththepawnbrokerand
Laurelnose are on the town council. Both had called for Yennefer to be
thrownoutoftown.Notonlydidtheyvoteforitatthecouncilbuttheybad-
mouthedherintavernsandspreadvulgargossip.”
“Iguessed that.Carryon. You stoppedwhenthe guardsappeared.They
threwmeinhere?”
“Theywantedto.Oh,Geralt,whatasightitwas.Whatyoudidtothem,
it’shardtodescribe.Theyhadswords,whips,clubs,hatchets,andyouonly
hadanashcanewithapommel,whichyou’dsnatchedfromsomedandy.And
when they were all lying on the ground, you walked on. Most of us knew
whereyouweregoing.”
“I’dbehappytoknowtoo.”
“You were going to the temple. Because the priest Krepp, who’s also a
member of the council, dedicated a lot of time to Yennefer in his sermons.
You promised him a lesson in respect for the fair sex. When you spoke of
him,youomittedhistitleandthrewinotherdescriptions,tothedelightofthe
childrentrailingafteryou.”
“Aha,” muttered Geralt. “So blasphemy came into it, too. What else?
Desecrationofthetemple?”
“No. You didn’t manage to get in there. An entire unit of municipal
guards,armed—itseemedtome—withabsolutelyeverythingtheycouldlay
theirhandsoninthearmoryapartfromacatapult,waswaitinginfrontofthe
temple.Itlookedasiftheyweregoingtoslaughteryou,butyoudidn’treach
them.Yousuddenlygraspedyourheadwithbothhandsandfainted.”
“Youdon’thavetofinish.So,Chireadan,howwereyouimprisoned?”
“Severalguardsrantoattackyouwhenyoufell.Igotintoadisputewith
them.Igotablowovertheheadwithamaceandcametohere,inthishole.
Nodoubtthey’llaccusemeoftakingpartinananti-humanconspiracy.”
“Since we’re talking about accusations”—the witcher ground his teeth
again—“what’sinstoreforus,doyouthink?”
“If Neville, the mayor, gets back from the capital on time,” muttered
Chireadan,“whoknows…he’safriend.Butifhedoesn’t,thensentencewill
be passed by the councilors, including Laurelnose and the pawnbroker, of
course.Andthatmeans—”
The elf made a brief gesture across his neck. Despite the darkness, the
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gestureleftlittledoubtastoChireadan’smeaning.Thewitcherdidn’treply.
Thethievesmumbledto each other and the tinyoldman,lockedupfor his
innocence,seemedtobeasleep.
“Great,”saidGeraltfinally,andcursedvilely.“NotonlywillIhang,but
I’ll do so with the knowledge that I’m the cause of your death, Chireadan.
And Dandilion’s, too, no doubt. No, don’t interrupt. I know it’s Yennefers
prank,butI’mtheguiltyone.It’smyfoolishness.Shedeceivedme,tookthe
pissoutofme,asthedwarvessay.”
“Hmm…” muttered the elf. “Nothing to add, nothing to take away. I
warnedyouagainsther.Dammit,Iwarnedyou,andIturnedouttobejustas
big an—pardon the word—idiot. You’re worried that I’m here because of
you,butit’squitetheopposite.You’relockedupbecauseofme.Icouldhave
stopped you in the street, overpowered you, not allowed—But I didn’t.
Because I was afraid that when the spell she’d cast on you had dispelled,
you’dgobackand…harmher.Forgiveme.”
“Iforgiveyou,becauseyou’venoideahowstrongthatspellwas.Mydear
elf,IcanbreakanordinaryspellwithinafewminutesandIdon’tfaintwhile
doing it. You wouldn’t have managed to break Yennefers spell and you
wouldhavehaddifficultyoverpoweringme.Remembertheguards.”
“Iwasn’tthinkingaboutyou.Irepeat:Iwasthinkingabouther.”
“Chireadan?”
“Yes?”
“Doyou…Doyou—”
“Idon’tlikegrandwords,”interruptedtheelf,smilingsadly.“I’mgreatly,
shallwesay,fascinatedbyher.Nodoubtyou’resurprisedthatanyonecould
befascinatedbyher?”
Geralt closed his eyes to recall an image which, without using grand
words,fascinatedhiminexplicably.
“No,Chireadan,”hesaid.“I’mnotsurprised.”
Heavystepssoundedinthecorridor,andaclangofmetal.Thedungeon
wasfilledwiththeshadows of four guards. Akeygrated.Theinnocentold
manleaptawayfromthebarslikealynxandhidamongthecriminals.
“So soon?” the elf, surprised, half-whispered. “I thought it would take
longertobuildthescaffold…”
Oneoftheguards,atall,strappingfellow,baldasaknee,hismugcovered
withbristleslikeaboar,pointedatthewitcher.
“Thatone,”hesaidbriefly.
Two others grabbed Geralt, hauled him up and pressed him against the
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wall.Thethievessqueezedintotheircorner;thelong-nosedgranddadburied
himselfinthestraw.Chireadanwantedtojumpup,buthefelltothedirtfloor,
retreatingfromtheshortswordpointedathischest.
The bald guard stood in front of the witcher, pulled his sleeves up and
rubbedhisfist.
“Councilor Laurelnose,” he said, “toldme toask ifyou’reenjoying our
little dungeon. Perhaps there’s something you need? Perhaps the chill is
gettingtoyou?Eh?”
Geraltdidnotanswer.Norcouldhekickthebaldman,astheguardswho
restrainedhimwerestandingonhisfeetintheirheavyboots.
Thebaldmantookashortswingandpunchedthewitcherinthestomach.
Itdidn’thelptotensehismusclesindefense.Geralt,catchinghisbreathwith
an effort, looked at the buckle of his own belt fora while; then the guards
“hauledhimupagain.
“Istherenothingyouneed?”theguardcontinued,stinkingofonionsand
rottingteeth.“Thecouncilorwillbepleasedthatyouhavenocomplaints.”
Another blow, in the same place. The witcher choked and would have
puked,buthehadnothingtothrowup.
Thebaldguardturnedsideways.Hewaschanginghands.
Wham!Geraltlookedatthebuckleofhisbeltagain.Althoughitseemed
strange,therewasnoholeaboveitthroughwhichthewallcouldbeseen.
“Well?”Theguardbackedawayalittle,nodoubtplanningtotakeawider
swing.“Don’tyouhaveanywishes?Mr.Laurelnoseaskedwhetheryouhave
any.Butwhyaren’tyousayinganything?Tongue-tied?I’llgetitstraightfor
you!”
Wham!
Geraltdidn’tfaintthistimeeither.Andhehadtofaintbecausehecared
forhisinternalorgans.Inordertofaint,hehadtoforcetheguardto—
Theguardspat,baredhisteethandrubbedhisfistagain.
“Well?Nowishesatall?”
“Justone…” moaned the witcher, raising his head with difficulty. “That
youburst,youson-of-a-whore.”
The bald guard ground his teeth, stepped back and took a swing—this
time, according to Geralt’s plan, aiming for his head. But the blow never
came. The guard suddenly gobbled like a turkey, grew red, grabbed his
stomachwithbothhands,howled,roaredwithpain…
Andburst.
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242
VII
AndwhatamItodowithyou?”
A blindingly bright ribbon of lightning cut the darkened sky outside the
window,followedbyasharp,drawn-outcrashofthunder.Thedownpourwas
gettingharderasthestormcloudpassedoverRinde.
GeraltandChireadan,seatedonabenchunderahugetapestrydepicting
theProphetLebioduspasturinghissheep,remainedsilent,modestlyhanging
theirheads.MayorNevillewaspacingthechamber,snortingandpantingwith
anger.
“You bloody, shitty sorcerers!” he yelled suddenly, standing still. “Are
you persecuting my town, or what? Aren’t there any other towns in the
world?”
Theelfandwitcherremainedsilent.
“Todosomethinglike—”themayorchoked.“Toturnthewarder…Like
atomato!Topulp!Toredpulp!It’sinhuman!”
“Inhuman and godless,” repeated the priest, also present. “So inhuman
that even a fool could guess who’s behind it. Yes, mayor. We both know
Chireadan and the man here, who calls himself a witcher, wouldn’t have
enoughForcetodothis.ItisalltheworkofYennefer,thatwitchcursedby
thegods!”Therewasaclapofthunderoutside,asifconfirmingthepriest’s
words. “It’s her and no one else,” continued Krepp. “There’s no question
aboutit.Who,ifnotYennefer,wouldwantrevengeuponLaurelnose?”
“Hehehe,”chuckledthemayorsuddenly.“That’sthethingI’mleastangry
about.Laurelnosehasbeenschemingagainstme;he’s beenaftermyoffice.
Andnowthepeoplearen’tgoingtorespecthim.Whentheyrememberhow
hegotitinthearse—”
“That’s all it needs, Mr. Neville, you to applaud the crime.” Krepp
frowned. “Let me remind you that had I not thrown an exorcism at the
witcher,hewouldhaveraisedhishandtostrikemeandthetemple’smajesty
—”
“Andthat’sbecauseyouspokevilelyaboutherinyoursermons,Krepp.
EvenBerrantcomplainedaboutyou.Butwhat’strueistrue.Doyouhearthat,
youscoundrels?”ThemayorturnedtoGeraltandChireadanagain.“Nothing
justifieswhatyou’vedone!Idon’tintendtotoleratesuchthingshere!That’s
enough,nowgetonwithit,tellmeeverything,tellmewhatyouhaveforyour
defense,becauseifyoudon’t,IswearbyalltherelicsthatI’llleadyousucha
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danceasyouwon’tforgettoyourdyingday!Tellmeeverything,rightnow,
asyouwouldinaconfessional!”
Chireadan sighed deeply andlooked meaningfully andpleadingly at the
witcher.
Geraltalsosighed,thenclearedhisthroat.Andherecountedeverything.
Well,almosteverything.
“So that’s it,” said the priest after a moment’s silence.“A fine kettle of
fish.Ageniereleasedfromcaptivity.Andanenchantresswhohashersights
onthegenie.Notabadarrangement.Thiscouldendbadly,verybadly.”
“What’sagenie?”askedNeville.“AndwhatdoesthisYenneferwant?”
“Enchanters,” explained Krepp, “draw their power from the forces of
nature, or to put it more accurately, from the so-called Four Elements or
Principles, commonly called the natural forces. Air, Water, Fire and Earth.
EachoftheseelementshasitsownDimensionwhichiscalledaPlaneinthe
jargonusedbyenchanters.There’saWaterPlane,FirePlaneandsoon.These
Dimensions, which are beyond our reach, are inhabited by what are called
genies—”
“That’swhatthey’recalledinlegends,”interruptedthewitcher.“Because
asfarasIknow—”
“Don’t interrupt,” Krepp cut him short. “The fact that you don’t know
muchwasevidentinyourtale,witcher.Sobequietandlistentowhatthose
wiserthanyouhavetosay.Goingbacktothegenies,therearefoursorts,just
astherearefourPlanes.Djinnsareaircreatures;maridesareassociatedwith
theprincipleofwater;afreetareFiregeniesandd’ao,thegeniesofEarth—”
“You’verunawaywithyourself,Krepp,”Nevillebuttedin.“Thisisn’ta
temple school; don’t lecture us. Briefly, what does Yennefer want with this
genie?”
“A genie like this, mayor, is a living reservoir of magical energy. A
sorcererwhohasagenieattheirbeckandcallcandirectthatenergyinthe
formofspells.Theydon’thavetodrawtheForcefromNature;thegeniedoes
it for them. The power of such an enchanter is enormous, close to
omnipotence—”
“Somehow I’ve never heard of a wizard who can do everything,”
contradictedNeville.“Onthecontrary,thepowerofmostofthemisclearly
exaggerated.Theycan’tdothis,theycan’t—”
“TheenchanterStammelford,”interruptedthepriest,oncemoretakingon
thetoneandpoiseofanacademiclecturer,“oncemovedamountainbecause
it obstructed the view from his tower. Nobody has managed to do the like,
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beforeorsince.BecauseStammelford,sotheysay,hadtheservicesofad’ao,
anEarthgenie.Therearerecordsofdeedsaccomplishedbyothermagicians
on a similarscale. Enormous waves andcatastrophic rains arecertainly the
workofmarides.Fierycolumns,firesandexplosionstheworkofafreets—”
“Whirlwinds, hurricanes, flights above the earth,” muttered Geralt,
“GeoffreyMonck.”
“Exactly. Iseeyou doknowsomething afterall.”Krepp glancedathim
morekindly.“Wordhas itoldMonckhadawayofforcingadjinntoserve
him.Therewererumorsthathehadmorethanone.Hewassaidtokeepthem
in bottles andmake use of them when need arose. Three wishes fromeach
genie,thenit’sfreeandescapesintoitsowndimension.”
“The one at the river didn’t fulfill anything,” said Geralt emphatically.
“HeimmediatelythrewhimselfatDandilion’sthroat.”
“Genies”—Kreppturneduphisnose—“arespitefulanddeceitfulbeings.
They don’t like being packed into bottles and ordered to move mountains.
Theydoeverythingtheypossiblycantomakeitimpossibleforyoutoexpress
yourwishesandthentheyfulfilltheminawaywhichishardtocontroland
foresee, sometimes literally, so you have to be careful what you say. To
subjugateagenie,youneedawillofiron,nervesofsteel,astrongForceand
considerableabilities.Fromwhatyousay,itlookslikeyourabilities,witcher,
weretoomodest.”
“Too modest to subjugate the cad,” agreed Geralt. “But I did chase him
away;heboltedsofasttheairhowled.Andthat’salsosomething.Yennefer,
it’strue,ridiculedmyexorcism—”
“Whatwastheexorcism?Repeatit.”
Geraltrepeatedit,wordforword.
“What?!”Thepriestfirstturnedpale,thenredandfinallyblue.“Howdare
you!Areyoumakingfunofme?”
“Forgive me,” stuttered Geralt. “To behonest, I don’t know… whatthe
wordsmean.”
“Sodon’trepeatwhatyoudon’tknow!I’venoideawhereyoucouldhave
heardsuchfilth!”
“Enough of that.” The mayor waved it all aside. “We’re wasting time.
Right. We now know what the sorceress wants thegenie for. But you said,
Krepp,thatit’sbad.What’sbad?Lethercatchhimandgotohell,whatdoI
care?Ithink—”
No one ever found out what Neville was thinking, even if it wasn’t a
boast. A luminous rectangle appeared on the wall next to the tapestry of
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ProphetLebiodus,somethingflashedandDandilionlanded inthemiddleof
thetownhall.
“Innocent!”yelledthepoetinaclear,melodioustenor,sittingonthefloor
and looking around, his eyes vague. “Innocent! The witcher is innocent! I
wishyoutobelieveit!”
“Dandilion!”Geraltshouted,holdingKreppback,whowasclearlygetting
ready to perform an exorcism or a curse. “Where have you… here…
Dandilion!”
“Geralt!”Thebardjumpedup.
“Dandilion!”
“Who’sthis?”Nevillegrowled.“Dammit,ifyoudon’tputanendtoyour
spells,there’snoguaranteewhatI’lldo.I’vesaidthatspellsareforbiddenin
Rinde!Firstyouhavetoputinawrittenapplication,thenpayataxandstamp
duty…Eh?Isn’titthatsinger,thewitch’shostage?”
“Dandilion,”repeatedGeralt,holdingthepoetbytheshoulders.“Howdid
yougethere?”
“Idon’tknow,”admittedthebardwithafoolish,worriedexpression.“To
be honest, I’m rather unaware of what happened to me. I don’t remember
muchandmaytheplaguetakemeifIknowwhatofthatisrealandwhat’sa
nightmare.ButIdorememberquiteapretty,black-hairedfemalewithfiery
eyes—”
“What are you telling me about black-haired women for?” Neville
interruptedangrily.“Gettothepoint,squire,tothepoint.Youyelledthatthe
witcherisinnocent.HowamItounderstandthat?ThatLaurelnosethrashed
his own arse with his hands? Because if the witchers innocent, it couldn’t
havebeenotherwise.Unlessitwasamasshallucination.”
“Idon’tknowanythingaboutanyarsesorhallucinations,”saidDandilion
proudly. “Or anything about laurel noses: I repeat, that the last thing I
rememberwasanelegantwomandressedintastefullycoordinatedblackand
white.Shethrewmeintoashinyhole,amagicportalforsure.Butfirstshe
gavemeaclearandpreciseerrand.AssoonasI’darrived,Iwasimmediately
to say, Iquote: ‘My wish isfor you tobelieve the witcher isnot guilty for
whatoccurred.That,andnoother,ismywish.’Wordforword.Indeed,Itried
to ask what all this was, what it was all about, and why. The black-haired
woman didn’t let me get a word in edgeways. She scolded me most
inelegantly,graspedmebytheneckandthrewmeintotheportal.That’sall.
Andnow…”Dandilionpulled himself up, brushedhisdoublet,adjustedhis
collarandfancy—ifdirty—ruffles.“…perhaps,gentlemen,you’dliketotell
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methenameofthebesttavernintownandwhereitcanbefound.”
“Therearenobadtavernsinmytown,”saidNevilleslowly.“Butbefore
youseethemforyourself,you’llinspectthebestdungeoninthistownvery
thoroughly.Youandyourcompanions.Letmeremindyouthatyou’restillnot
free, you scoundrels! Look at them! One tells incredible stories while the
otherleapsoutofthewallandshoutsaboutinnocence.Iwish,heyells,youto
believeme.Hehastheaudacitytowish—”
“My gods!” The priest suddenly grasped his bald crown. “Now I
understand!Thewish!Thelastwish!”
“What’shappenedtoyou,Krepp?”Themayorfrowned.“Areyouill?”
“Thelastwish!”repeatedthepriest.“Shemadethebardexpressthelast,
thethird wish.AndYennefer setamagicaltrapand,nodoubt,captured the
geniebeforehemanagedtoescapeintohisowndimension!Mr.Neville,we
must—”
Itthunderedoutside.Sostronglythatthewallsshook.
“Dammit,”mutteredthemayor,goinguptothewindow.“Thatwasclose.
As long as it doesn’t hit a house. All I need now is a fire—Oh gods! Just
look!Justlookatthis!Krepp!Whatisit?”
Allofthem,toaman,rushedtothewindow.
“Mother of mine!” yelled Dandilion, grabbing his throat. “It’s him! It’s
thatsonofabitchwhostrangledme!”
“Thedjinn!”shoutedKrepp.“TheAirgenie!”
“AboveErrdil’stavern!”shoutedChireadan,“abovehisroof!”
“She’scaughthim!”Thepriestleanedoutsofarhealmostfell.“Canyou
seethemagicallight?Thesorceresshascaughtthegenie!”
Geraltwatchedinsilence.
Once, years ago, when a little snot-faced brat following his studies in
KaerMorhen,theWitchers’Settlement,heandafriend,Eskel,hadcaptureda
hugeforestbumblebeeandtiedittoajugwithathread.Theywereinfitsof
laughterwatchingtheanticsofthetiedbumblebee,untilVesemir,theirtutor,
caughtthematitandtannedtheirhideswithaleatherstrap.
Thedjinn,circlingabovetheroofofErrdil’stavern,behavedexactlylike
that bumblebee. He flew up and fell, he sprang up and dived, he buzzed
furiously in a circle.Because the djinn, exactlylikethe bumblebee in Kaer
Morhen,wastieddown.Twistedthreadsofblindinglybrightlightofvarious
colorsweretightlywrappedaroundhimandendedattheroof.Butthedjinn
had more options than the bumblebee, which couldn’t knock down
surrounding roofs, rip thatches to shreds, destroy chimneys, and shatter
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towersandgarrets.Thedjinncould.Anddid.
“It’sdestroyingthetown,”wailedNeville.“Thatmonstersdestroyingmy
town!”
“Hehehe,” laughed the priest. “She’s found her match, it seems! It’s an
exceptionallystrongdjinn!Ireallydon’tknowwho’scaughtwhom,thewitch
him or hethe witch! Ha,it’ll end with the djinn grinding herto dust. Very
good!Justicewillbedone!”
“Ishit onjustice!”yelledthemayor,notcaringif therewereany voters
under the window. “Look what’s happening there, Krepp! Panic, ruin! You
didn’ttellmethat,youbaldidiot!Youplayedthewiseguy,gabbledon,but
not a word about what’s most important! Why didn’t you tell me that that
demon… Witcher! Do something! Do you hear, innocent sorcerer? Do
somethingaboutthatdemon!Iforgiveyouallyouroffences,but—”
“There’s nothing can be done here, Mr. Neville,” snorted Krepp. “You
didn’tlistentowhatIwassaying, that’s all.You neverlistentome.This, I
repeat, is an exceptionally strong djinn. If it wasn’t for that, the sorceress
wouldhaveholdofhimalready.Herspellissoongoingtoweaken,andthen
thedjinnisgoingtocrushherandescape.Andwe’llhavesomepeace.”
“Andinthemeantime,thetownwillgotoruins?”
“We’vegottowait,”repeatedthepriest,“butnotidly.Giveouttheorders,
mayor. Tell the people toevacuate the surrounding housesand get ready to
extinguishfires.What’shappeningtherenowisnothingcomparedtothehell
that’sgoingtobreakloosewhenthegeniehasfinishedwiththewitch.”
Geraltraisedhishead,caughtChireadan’seyeandlookedaway.
“Mr.Krepp,”hesuddenlydecided,“Ineedyourhelp.It’sabouttheportal
throughwhichDandilionappearedhere.Theportalstilllinksthetownhallto
—”
“There’s notevenatrace of theportalanymore,”the priest saidColdly,
pointingtothewall.“Can’tyousee?”
“Aportalleavesatrace,evenwheninvisible.Aspellcanstabilizesucha
trace.I’llfollowit.”
“Youmustbemad.Evenifapassagelikethatdoesn’ttearyoutopieces,
whatdoyouexpecttogainbyit?Doyouwanttofindyourselfinthemiddle
ofacyclone?”
“Iaskedifyoucancastaspellwhichcouldstabilizethetrace.”
“Spell?”Thepriestproudlyraisedhishead.“I’mnotagodlesssorcerer!I
don’tcastspells!Mypowercomesfromfaithandprayer!”
“Canyouorcan’tyou?”
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“Ican.”
“Thengetonwithit,becausetime’spressingon.”
“Geralt,” said Dandilion, “you’ve gone stark raving mad! Keep away
fromthatbloodystrangler!”
“Silence,please,”saidKrepp,“andgravity.I’mpraying.”
“To hell with your prayers!” Neville hollered. “I’m off to gather the
people.We’vegottodosomethingandnotstandheregabbling!Gods,whata
day!Whatabloodyday!”
ThewitcherfeltChireadantouchhisshoulder.Heturned.Theelflooked
himintheeyes,thenloweredhisown.
“You’regoingtherebecauseyouhaveto,aren’tyou?”
Geralt hesitated. He thought he smelled the scent of lilac and
gooseberries.
“Ithinkso,”hesaidreluctantly.“Idohaveto.I’msorry,Chireadan—”
“Don’tapologize.Iknowwhatyoufeel.”
“Idoubtit.BecauseIdon’tknowmyself.”
Theelfsmiled.Thesmilehadlittletodowithjoy.“That’sjustit,Geralt.
Preciselyit.”
Krepp pulled himself upright and took a deep breath. “Ready,” he said,
pointingwithprideatthebarelyvisibleoutlineonthewall.“Buttheportalis
unsteadyandwon’tstaythereforlong.Andthere’snowaytobesureitwon’t
break.Beforeyoustepthrough,sir,examineyourconscience.Icangiveyou
ablessing,butinordertoforgiveyouyoursins—”
“—there’s no time,” Geralt finished the sentence for him. “I know, Mr.
Krepp.There’sneverenoughtimeforit.Leavethechamber,allofyou.Ifthe
portalexplodes,it’llburstyoureardrums.”
“I’ll stay,” said Krepp, when the door had closed behind Dandilion and
the elf. He waved his hands in the air, creating a pulsating aura around
himself. “I’ll spread some protection, just in case. And if the portal does
burst… I’ll try and pull you out, witcher. What are eardrums to me? They
growback.”
Geraltlookedathimmorekindly.
Thepriestsmiled.“You’reabraveman,”hesaid.“Youwanttosaveher,
don’t you? But bravery isn’t going to be of much use to you. Djinns are
vengefulbeings.Thesorceressislost.Andifyougothere,you’llbelost,too.
Examineyourconscience.”
“Ihave.”Geraltstoodinfrontofthefaintlyglowingportal.“Mr.Krepp,
sir?”
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“Yes.”
“Thatexorcismwhichmadeyousoangry…Whatdothewordsmean?”
“Indeed,whatamomentforquipsandjokes—”
“Please,Mr.Krepp,sir.”
“Oh, well,” said the priest, hiding behind the mayors heavy oak table.
“It’s your last wish, so I’ll tell you. It means… Hmm… Hmm…
essentially…getoutofhereandgofuckyourself!
Geraltenteredthenothingness,wherecoldstifledthelaughterwhichwas
shakinghim.
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VIII
The portal, roaring and whirlinglikea hurricane, spat himoutwith a force
that bruised his lungs. The witcher collapsed on the floor, panting and
catchinghisbreathwithdifficulty.
The floor shook. At first he thought he was trembling after his journey
throughthesplittinghelloftheportal,butherapidlyrealizedhismistake.The
wholehousewasvibrating,tremblingandcreaking.
Helookedaround.Hewasnotinthesmallroomwherehehadlastseen
YenneferandDandilionbutinthelargecommunalhallofErrdil’srenovated
tavern.
He saw her. She was kneeling between tables, bent over the magical
sphere.Thespherewasaflamewithastrong,milkylight,sobright,enoughto
shineredthroughherfingers.Thelightfromthesphereilluminatedascene,
flickeringandswaying,butclear.Geraltsawthesmallroomwithastarand
pentagramtracedonthefloor,blazingwithwhiteheat.Hesawmany-colored,
creaking, fiery lines shootingfromthe pentagram and disappearingupover
therooftowardthefuriousroarofthecaptureddjinn.
Yennefersawhim,jumpedupandraisedherhand.
“No!”heshouted,“don’tdothis!Iwanttohelpyou!”
“Help?”Shesnorted.“You?”
“Me.”
“InspiteofwhatIdidtoyou?”
“Inspiteofit.”
“Interesting.Butnotimportant.Idon’tneedyourhelp.Getoutofhere.”
“No.”
“Get out of here!” she yelled, grimacing ominously. “It’s getting
dangerous! The whole thing’s getting out of control; do you understand? I
can’t master him. I don’t get it, but the scoundrel isn’t weakening at all! I
caughthimoncehe’dfulfilledthetroubadoursthirdwishandIshouldhave
himinthespherebynow.Buthe’snotgettinganyweaker!Dammit,itlooks
as if he’s getting stronger! But I’m still going to get the better of him. I’ll
break—”
“Youwon’tbreakhim,Yennefer.He’llkillyou.”
“It’snotsoeasytokillme—”
Shebrokeoff.Thewholeroofofthetavernsuddenlyflaredup.Thevision
projected by the sphere dissolved in the brightness. A huge fiery rectangle
251
appeared on the ceiling. The sorceress cursed as she lifted her hands, and
sparksgushedfromherfingers.
“Run,Geralt!”
“What’shappening,Yennefer?”
“He’slocatedme…”Shegroaned,flushingredwitheffort.“Hewantsto
getatme.He’screatinghisownportaltogetin.Hecan’tbreakloosebuthe’ll
getinbytheportal.Ican’t—Ican’tstophim!”
“Yennefer—”
“Don’tdistractme!I’vegottoconcentrate…Geralt,you’vegottogetout
of here. I’ll open my portal, a way for you to escape. Be careful; it’ll be a
random portal. I haven’t got time or strength for any other… I don’t know
whereyou’llendup…butyou’llbesafe…Getready—”
A huge portal on the ceiling suddenly flared blindingly, expanded and
grewdeformed.Outofthenothingnessappearedtheshapelessmouthalready
knowntothewitcher,snappingitsdroopinglipsandhowlingloudlyenough
to pierce his ears. Yennefer jumped, waved her arms and shouted an
incantation.Anetoflightshotfromherpalmandfellonthedjinn.Itgavea
roar and sprouted long paws which shot toward the sorceress’s throat like
attackingcobras.Yenneferdidn’tbackaway.
Geraltthrewhimselftowardher,pushedherasideandshelteredher.The
djinn,tangledinthemagicallight,sprangfromtheportallikeacorkfroma
bottleandthrewhimselfatthem,openinghisjaws.Thewitcherclenchedhis
teeth and hit him with the Sign without any apparent effect. But the genie
didn’t attack. He hung in the air just below the ceiling, swelled to an
impressivesize, goggledatGeraltwithhis paleeyesand roared.Therewas
something in that roar, something like a command, an order. He didn’t
understandwhatitwas.
“This way!” shouted Yennefer, indicating the portal which she had
conjuredupohthewallbythestairs.Incomparisontotheonecreatedbythe
genie, the sorceress’s portal looked feeble, extremely inferior. “This way,
Geralt!Runforit!”
“Onlywithyou!”
Yennefer,sweepingtheairwithherhands,wasshoutingincantationsand
themany-coloredfettersshoweredsparksandcreaked.Thedjinnwhirledlike
the bumble-bee, pulling the bonds tight, then loosening them. Slowly but
surelyhewasdrawingclosertothesorceress.Yenneferdidnotbackaway.
Thewitcherleapttoher,deftlytrippedherup,grabbedherbythewaist
with one hand and dug the other intoher hair at the nape. Yennefer cursed
252
nastily‘’andthumpedhimintheneckwithherelbow.Hedidn’tletgoofher.
Thepenetratingsmellofozone,createdbythecurses,didn’tkillthesmellof
lilacandgooseberries.Geraltstilledthesorceress’skickinglegsandjumped,
raisingherstraightuptotheopalescentlyflickeringnothingnessofthelesser
portal.
Theportalwhichledintotheunknown.
Theyflewoutinatightembrace,fellontoamarblefloorandslidacross
it, knocking over an enormous candlestick and a table from which crystal
goblets,plattersoffruitandahugebowlofcrushedice,seaweedandoysters
showered down with a crash. Screams and squeals came from around the
room.
Theywerelyingintheverycenterofaballroom,brightwithcandelabra.
Richlycladgentlemenandladies,sparklingwithjewels,hadstoppeddancing
and were watching them in stunned silence. The musicians in the gallery
finishedtheirpieceinacacophonywhichgratedontheears.
“Youmoron!”Yenneferyelled,tryingtoscratchouthiseyes.“Youbloody
idiot!Youstoppedme!Inearlyhadhim!”
“Youhadshit-all!”heshoutedback,furious.“Isavedyourlife,youstupid
witch!”
Shehissedlikeafuriouscat;herpalmsshoweredsparks.
Geralt, turning his faceaway, caughther by both wristsand they rolled
amongtheoysters,seaweedandcrushedice.
“Do you have an invitation?” A portly man with the golden chain of a
chamberlainonhischestwaslookingatthemwithahaughtyexpression.
“Screwyourself!”screamedYennefer,stilltryingtoscratchGeralt’seyes
out.
“It’s a scandal,” the chamberlain said emphatically. “Verily, you’re
exaggeratingwiththisteleportation.I’mgoingtocomplaintotheCouncilof
Wizards.I’lldemand—”
No one ever heard what the chamberlain would demand. Yennefer
wrenched herself free, slapped the witcher in the ear with her open palm,
kicked him forcefully in the shin and jumped into the fading portal in the
wall.
Geraltthrewhimselfafterher,catchingherhairandbeltwithapracticed
move.
Yennefer,alsohavinggainedpractice,landedhimablowwithherelbow.
Thesuddenmovesplitherdressatthearmpit,revealingashapelybreast.
Anoysterflewfromhertorndress.
253
Theybothfellintothenothingnessoftheportal.Geraltcouldstillhearthe
chamberlain’svoice.
“Music! Play on! Nothing has happened. Please take no notice of that
pitifulincident!”
Thewitcherwasconvincedthatwitheverysuccessivejourneythroughthe
portal,theriskofmisfortunewasmultiplyingandhewasn’tmistaken.They
hit the target, Errdil’s tavern, but they materialized just under the ceiling.
Theyfell,shatteringthestairbalustradeand,withadeafeningcrash,landed
onthetable.Thetablehadtherightnottowithstandtheblow,anditdidn’t.
Yennefer found herself under the table. He was sure she had lost
consciousness.Hewasmistaken.
Shepunchedhim intheeyeand firedavolleyof insultsstraightathim
whichwoulddocredittoadwarvenundertaker—andtheywererenownedfor
theirfoullanguage.Thecurseswereaccompaniedbyfurious,chaoticblows
dealtblindly,randomly.
Geraltgrabbedherbythehandsand,toavoidbeinghitbyherforehead,
thrust his face into the sorceress’s cleavage which smelled of lilac,
gooseberriesandoysters.
“Letmego!”shescreamed,kickinglikeapony.“Youidiot!Letgo!The
fettersaregoingtobreakanymomentnow.I’vegottostrengthenthemorthe
djinnwillescape!”
He didn’t answer, although he wanted to. He grasped her even more
tightly,tryingtopinherdowntothefloor.Yennefersworehorribly,struggled,
andwithallherstrength,kickedhiminthecrotchwithherknee.Beforehe
couldcatchhisbreath,shebrokefreeandscreamedanincantation.Hefelta
terrible force drag him from the ground and hurl him across the hall until,
with a violence that near-stunned him, he slammed against a carved two-
dooredchestofdrawersandshattereditcompletely.
254
IX
“What’shappeningthere?!”Dandilion,clingingtothewall,strainedhisneck,
trying to see through the downpour. “Tell me what’s happening there,
dammit!”
“They’re fighting!” yelled an urchin, springing away from the tavern
windowasifhe’dburnedhimself.Histatteredfriendsalsoescaped,slapping
themudwiththeirbareheels.“Thesorcererandthewitcharefighting!”
“Fighting?” Neville was surprised. “They’re fighting, and that shitty
demonisruiningmytown!Look,he’sknockedanotherchimneydown.And
damagedthebrick-kiln!Hey,yougetoverthere,quick!Gods,we’reluckyit’s
rainingorthere’dbeafirelikenobody’sbusiness!”
“Thiswon’tlastmuchlonger,”Kreppsaidgloomily.“Themagicallightis
weakening, the bonds will break at any moment. Mr. Neville! Order the
peopletomoveback!Allhell’sgoingtobreaklooseoverthereatanyminute!
There’llbeonlysplintersleftofthathouse!Mr.Errdil,whatareyoulaughing
at?It’syourhouse.Whatmakesyousoamused?”
“Ihadthatwreckinsuredforamassivesum!”
“Doesthepolicycovermagicalandsupernaturalevents?”
“Ofcourse.”
“That’swise,Mr.Elf.Verywise.Congratulations.Hey,youpeople,getto
someshelter!Don’tgetanycloser,ifyouvalueyourlives!”
AdeafeningcrashcamefromwithinErrdil’shouse,andlightningflashed.
Thesmallcrowdretreated,hidingbehindthepillars.
“WhydidGeraltgothere?”groanedDandilion.“Whatthehellfor?Why
did he insist on saving that witch? Why, dammit? Chireadan, do you
understand?”
Theelfsmiledsadly.“Yes,Ido,Dandilion,”hesaid.“Ido.”
255
X
Geralt leapt away from another blazing orange shaft which shot from the
sorceress’sfingers.Shewasclearlytired,theshaftswereweakandslow,and
heavoidedthemwithnogreatdifficulty.
“Yennefer!”heshouted.“Calmdown!Willyoulisten?!Youwon’tbeable
—”
Hedidn’tfinish.Thinredboltsoflightningspurtedfromthesorceress’s
hands, reaching him in many places and wrapping him up thoroughly. His
clotheshissedandstartedtosmolder.
“I won’t be able to?” she said through her teeth, standing over him.
“You’llsoonseewhatI’mcapableof.Itwillsufficeforyoutolietherefora
whileandnotgetinmyway.”
“Getthisoffme!”heroared,strugglingintheblazingspidersweb.“I’m
burning,dammit!”
“Liethereanddon’tmove,”sheadvised,pantingheavily.“Itonlyburns
whenyoumove…Ican’tspareyouanymoretime,witcher.Wehadaromp,
butenough’senough.I’vegottotakecareofthedjinn;he’sreadytorunaway
—”
“Run away?” Geralt screamed. “It’s you who should run away! That
djinn…Yennefer,listentomecarefully.I’vegottotellyouthetruth.”
256
XI
Thedjinngaveatugatthefetters,tracedacircle,tightenedthelinesholding
it,andsweptthelittletoweroffBeauBerrant’shouse.
“What a roar he’s got!” Dandilion frowned, instinctively clasping his
throat.“Whataterribleroar!Itlooksasifhe’sbloodyfurious!”
“That’sbecauseheis,”saidKrepp.Chireadanglancedathim.
“What?”
“He’sfurious,”repeatedKrepp.“AndI’mnotsurprised.I’dbefurioustoo
if I had to fulfill, to the letter, the first wish accidentally expressed by the
witcher—”
“How’sthat?”shoutedDandilion.“Geralt?Wish?”
“He’stheonewhoheldthesealwhichimprisonedthedjinn.Thedjinn’s
fulfilling his wishes. That’s why the witch can’t master it. But the witcher
mustn’ttellher,evenifhe’scaughtontoitbynow.Heshouldn’ttellher.”
“Dammit,” muttered Chireadan. “I’m beginning to understand. The
warderinthedungeonburst…”
“Thatwasthewitcherssecondwish.He’sstillgotoneleft.Thelastone.
But,godshelpus,heshouldn’trevealthattoYennefer!”
257
XII
She stood motionless, leaning over him, paying no attention to the djinn
struggling at its bondsabove the tavern roof.The building shook, limeand
splinterspouredfromtheceiling,furniturecrept alongthefloor,shuddering
spasmodically.
“Sothat’showitis,”shehissed.“Congratulations.Youdeceivedme.Not
Dandilion,butyou.That’swhythedjinn’sfightingsohard!ButIhaven’tlost
yet,Geralt.Youunderestimateme,andyouunderestimatemypower.I’vestill
gotthedjinnandyouinmyhand.You’vestillgotonelastwish,haven’tyou?
Somakeit.You’llfreethedjinnandthenI’llbottleit.”
“Youhaven’tgotenoughstrengthleft,Yennefer.”
“Youunderestimatemystrength.Thewish,Geralt!”
“No,Yennefer.Ican’t…Thedjinnmightfulfillit,butitwon’tspareyou.
It’llkillyouwhenit’sfree.It’lltakeitsrevengeonyou…Youwon’tmanage
to catch it and you won’t manage to defend yourself against it. You’re
weakened;youcanbarelystand.You’lldie,Yennefer.”
“That’smyrisk!”sheshouted,enraged.“What’sittoyouwhathappensto
me?Thinkratherwhatthedjinncangiveyou!You’vestillgotonewish!You
can ask what you like! Make use of it! Use it, witcher! You can have
anything!Anything!”
258
XIII
“Arethey bothgoingto die?”wailedDandilion. “Howcome?Krepp, why?
Afterall,thewitcher—Why,byallperfidiousandunexpectedplagues,isn’t
heescaping?Why?What’skeepinghim?Whydoesn’theleavethatbloody
witchtoherfateandrunaway?It’ssenseless!”
“Absolutelysenseless,”repeatedChireadanbitterly.“Absolutely.”
“It’ssuicide.Andplainidiocy!”
“It’s his job, after all,” interrupted Neville. “The witchers saving my
town. May the godsbemy witness—if he defeatsthe witchandchases the
demonaway,I’llrewardhimhandsomely…”
Dandilionsnatchedthehatdecoratedwithaheron’sfeatherfromhishead,
spat into it, threw it in the mud and trampled on it, spitting out words in
variouslanguagesashedid.
“Buthe’s…”hegroanedsuddenly,“stillgotonewishinreserve!Hecould
savebothherandhimself!Mr.Krepp!”
“It’s notthatsimple,”the priest pondered.“Butif…If he expressedthe
right wish… If he somehow tied his fate to the fate… No, I don’t think it
wouldoccurtohim.Andit’sprobablybetterthatitdoesn’t.”
259
XIV
“The wish, Geralt! Hurry up! What do you desire? Immortality? Riches?
Fame? Power? Might? Privileges? Hurry, we haven’t any time!” He was
silent.“Humanity,”shesaidsuddenly,smilingnastily.“I’veguessed,haven’t
I?That’swhatyouwant;that’swhatyoudreamof!Ofrelease,ofthefreedom
tobewhoyouwant,notwhoyouhavetobe.Thedjinnwillfulfillthatwish,
Geralt.Justsayit.”
Hestayedsilent.
Shestoodoverhimintheflickeringradianceofthewizard’ssphere,inthe
glowofmagic,amidsttheflashesofraysrestrainingthedjinn,streaminghair
andeyesblazingviolet,erect,slender,dark,terrible…
Andbeautiful.
Allofasuddensheleanedoverandlookedhimintheeyes.Hecaughtthe
scentoflilacandgooseberries.
“You’re not saying anything,” she hissed. “So what is it you desire,
witcher?Whatisyourmosthiddendream?Isitthatyoudon’tknoworyou
can’tdecide?Lookforitwithinyourself,lookdeeplyandcarefullybecause,I
swearbytheForce,youwon’tgetanotherchancelikethis!”
Buthesuddenlyknewthetruth.Heknewit.Heknewwhatsheusedtobe.
What she remembered, what she couldn’tforget, what she lived with. Who
shereallywasbeforeshehadbecomeasorceress.
Hercold,penetrating,angryandwiseeyeswerethoseofahunchback.
He was horrified.No, not ofthe truth. He was horrified that shewould
readhisthoughts,findoutwhathehadguessed.Thatshewouldneverforgive
himforit.Hedeadenedthatthoughtwithinhimself,killedit,threwitfromhis
memoryforever,withouttrace,feeling,ashedidso,enormousrelief.Feeling
that—
The ceiling cracked open. The djinn, entangled in the net of the now
fading rays, tumbled right on top of them, roaring, and in that roar were
triumphandmurderlust.Yenneferleapttomeethim.Lightbeamedfromher
hands.Veryfeeblelight.
Thedjinnopenedhismouthandstretchedhispawstowardher.
Thewitchersuddenlyunderstoodwhatitwashewanted.
Andhemadehiswish.
260
261
XV
Thehouseexploded.Bricks,beamsandplanksflewupinacloudofsmoke
andsparks.Thedjinnspurtedfromthedust-storm,ashugeasabarn.Roaring
and choking with triumphant laughter, the Air genie, free now, not tied to
anyone’s will, traced three circles above the town, tore the spire from the
townhall,soaredintotheskyandvanished.
“It’s escaped! It’s escaped!” called Krepp. “The witchers had his way!
Thegeniehasflownaway!Itwon’tbeathreattoanyoneanymore!”
“Ah,”saidErrdilwithgenuinerapture,“whatawonderfulruin!”
“Dammit, dammit!” hollered Dandilion, huddled behind the wall. “It’s
shatteredtheentirehouse!Nobodycouldsurvivethat!Nobody,Itellyou!”
“Thewitcher,GeraltofRivia,hassacrificedhimselfforthetown,”mayor
Neville said ceremoniously. “We won’t forget him. We’ll reverehim. We’ll
thinkofastatue…”
Dandilion shook a piece of wicker matting bound with clay from his
shoulder,brushedhisjerkinfreeoflumpsofrain-dampenedplaster,lookedat
the mayor and, in a few well-chosen words, expressed his opinion about
sacrifice,reverence,memoryandallthestatuesintheworld.
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XVI
Geraltlookedaround.Waterwasslowlydrippingfromtheholeintheceiling.
There were heaps of rubble and stacks of timber all around. By a strange
coincidence,theplacewheretheylaywascompletelyclear.Notoneplankor
one brick had fallenon them. It was as if they were being protected by an
invisibleshield.
Yennefer,slightlyflushed,kneltbyhim,restingherhandsonherknees.
“Witcher.”Sheclearedherthroat.“Areyoudead?”
“No.”Geraltwipedthedustfromhisfaceandhissed.
Slowly,Yennefertouchedhiswristanddelicatelyranherfingersalonghis
palm.“Iburntyou—”
“It’snothing.Afewblisters—”
“I’msorry.Youknow,thedjinn’sescaped.Forgood.”
“Doyouregretit?”
“Notmuch.”
“Good.Helpmeup,please.”
“Wait,” she whispered.“That wish of yours… I heard whatyou wished
for.Iwasastounded,simplyastounded.I’dhaveexpectedanythingbutto…
Whatmadeyoudoit,Geralt?Why…Whyme?”
“Don’tyouknow?”
Sheleanedoverhim,touchedhim.Hefeltherhair,smellingoflilacand
gooseberries,brushhisfaceandhesuddenlyknewthathe’dneverforgetthat
scent,thatsofttouch,knewthathe’dneverbeabletocompareittoanyother
scentortouch.Yenneferkissedhimandheunderstoodthathe’dneverdesire
anylipsotherthanhers,sosoftandmoist,sweetwithlipstick.Heknewthat,
fromthatmoment,onlyshewouldexist,herneck,shouldersandbreastsfreed
fromherblackdress,herdelicate,coolskin,whichcouldn’tbecomparedto
any other he had ever touched. He gazed into her violet eyes, the most
beautifuleyesintheworld,eyeswhichhefearedwouldbecome…
Everything.Heknew.
“Your wish,” she whispered, her lips very near his ear. “I don’t know
whethersuchawishcaneverbefulfilled.Idon’tknowwhetherthere’ssucha
Force in Nature that could fulfill such a wish. But if there is, then you’ve
condemnedyourself.Condemnedyourselftome.”
Heinterruptedherwithakiss,anembrace,atouch,caressesandthenwith
everything,hiswholebeing,hiseverythought,hisonlythought,everything,
263
everything, everything. They broke the silence with sighs and the rustle of
clothingstrewn on the floor. They broke the silence verygently, lazily, and
theywere considerateandvery thorough.Theywere caringandtender and,
althoughneitherquiteknewwhatcaringandtendernesswere,theysucceeded
because they very muchwanted to. And theywere in no hurrywhatsoever.
The whole world had ceased to exist for a brief moment, but to them, it
seemedlikeawholeeternity.
Andthentheworldstartedtoexistagain;butitexistedverydifferently.
“Geralt?”
“Mmm?”
“Whatnow?”
“Idon’tknow.”
“Nor do I. Because, you see, I… I don’t know whether it was worth
condemningyourselftome.Idon’tknowhow—Wait,whatareyoudoing…?
Iwantedtotellyou—”
“Yennefer…Yen.”
“Yen,”sherepeated,givingintohimcompletely.“Nobody’severcalled
methat.Sayitagain.”
“Yen.”
“Geralt.”
264
XVII
Ithadstoppedraining.ArainbowappearedoverRindeandcuttheskywitha
broken,colored arc.Itlooked asifitgrewstraight fromthetavern’sruined
roof.
“By all the gods,”muttered Dandilion,“what silence… They’re dead, I
tellyou.Eitherthey’vekilledeachotherormydjinn’sfinishedthemoff.”
“Weshouldgoandsee,”saidVratimir,wipinghisbrowwithhiscrumpled
hat.“Theymightbewounded.ShouldIcalladoctor?”
“An undertaker, more like it,” said Krepp. “I know that witch, and that
witchersgotthedevilinhiseyestoo.There’snotwowaysaboutit;we’ve
gottostartdiggingtwopitsinthecemetery.I’dadvisestickinganaspenstake
intothatYenneferbeforeburyingher.”
“Whatsilence,”repeatedDandilion.“Beamswereflyingallovertheplace
amomentagoandnowit’sasquietasagrave.”
Theyapproachedthetavernruinsverycautiouslyandslowly.
“Letthecarpentergetthecoffinsready,”saidKrepp.“Tellthecarpenter
—”
“Quiet,”interruptedErrdil.“Iheardsomething.Whatwasit,Chireadan?”
Theelfbrushedthehairoffhispointedearandtiltedhishead.
“I’mnotsure…Let’sgetcloser.”
“Yennefersalive,”saidDandilionsuddenly,straininghismusicalear.“I
heardhermoan.There,shemoanedagain!”
“Uhuh,”confirmedErrdil.“Iheardit,too.Shemoaned.Shemustreally
besuffering.Chireadan,whereareyougoing?Careful!”
The elf backed away from the shattered window through which he had
carefullypeeped.
“Let’sgetoutofhere,”hesaidquietly.“Let’snotdisturbthem.”
“They’rebothalive?Chireadan?Whataretheydoing?”
“Let’sgetoutofhere,”repeatedtheelf.“Let’sleavethemaloneforabit.
Letthemstaythere,Yennefer,Geraltandhislastwish.Let’swaitinatavern;
they’lljoinusbeforelong.Bothofthem.”
“Whataretheydoing?”Dandilionwascurious.“Tellme,dammit!”
Theelfsmiled.Very,verysadly.“Idon’tlikegrandwords,”hesaid.“And
it’simpossibletogiveitanamewithoutusinggrandwords.”
265
266
THEVOICEOFREASON
267
I
Falwick, in full armor, without a helmet and with the crimson coat of the
Orderflungoverhisshoulder,stoodintheglade.Nexttohim,withhisarms
acrosshischest,wasastocky,beardeddwarfinanovercoatlinedwithfoxfur
over,achain-mailshirtofironrings.Tailles, wearing no armor butashort,
quilteddoublet,pacedslowly,brandishinghisunsheathedswordfromtimeto
time.
The witcher looked about, restraining his horse. All around glinted the
cuirassesandflathelmetsofsoldiersarmedwithlances.
“Bloodyhell,”mutteredGeralt.“Imighthaveexpectedthis.”
Dandilion turned his horse and quietly cursed at the sight of the lances
cuttingofftheirretreat.
“What’sthisabout,Geralt?”
“Nothing.Keepyourmouthshutanddon’tbuttin.I’lltrytoliemyway
outofitsomehow.”
“What’sitabout,Iaskyou?Moretrouble?”
“Shutup.”
“Itwasastupidideaafterall,torideintotown,”groanedthetroubadour,
glancingtowardthenearbytowersofthetemplevisibleabovetheforest.“We
shouldhavestayedatNenneke’sandnotstirredbeyondthewalls—”
“Shutup.It’llallbecomeclear,you’llsee.”
“Doesn’tlooklikeit.”
Dandilion was right. It didn’t. Tailles, brandishing his naked sword,
continuedpacingwithoutlookingintheirdirection.Thesoldiers,leaningon
theirspears,werewatchinggloomilyandindifferently,withtheexpressionof
professionalsforwhomkillingdoesnotprovokemuchinterest.
Theydismounted.Falwickandthedwarfslowlyapproached.
“You’ve insulted Tailles, a man of good birth, witcher,” said the count
withoutpreambleorthecustomarycourtesies.“AndTailles,asyounodoubt
remember, threw down the gauntlet. It was not fit to press you within the
grounds of the temple, so we waited until you emerged from behind the
priestess’sskirt.Taillesiswaiting.Youmustfight.”
“Must?”
“Must.”
“But do you not think, Falwick”—Geralt smiled disapprovingly—“that
Tailles, a man of goodbirth,doesmetoomuch honor? I never attained the
268
honorofbeingknighted,andit’sbestnottomentionthecircumstancesofmy
birth. I fear I’m not sufficiently worthy of… How does one say it,
Dandilion?”
“Unfittogivesatisfactionandjoustinthelists,”recitedthepoet,pouting.
“Thecodeofchivalryproclaims—”
“The Chapter of the Order is governed by its own code,” interrupted
Falwick. “If it were you who challenged a Knight of the Order, he could
either refuse or grant you satisfaction, according to his will. But this is the
reverse:itistheknightwhochallengesyouandbythisheraisesyoutohis
ownlevel—but,ofcourse,onlyforthetimeittakestoavengetheinsult.You
can’t refuse. The refusal of accepting the dignity would render you
unworthy.”
“Howlogical,”saidDandilionwithanapelikeexpression.“Iseeyou’ve
studiedthephilosophers,sirKnight.”
“Don’t butt in.” Geralt raised his head and looked into Falwick’s eyes.
“Goon, sir. I’dliketo knowwherethisisleading. WhatwouldhappenifI
turnedouttobe…unworthy?”
“What would happen?” Falwick gave a malicious smile. “I’d order you
hungfromabranch,youratcatcher.”
“Holdon,”thedwarfsaidhoarsely.“Takeiteasy,sir.Andnoinvective,all
right?”
“Don’t you teach me manners, Cranmer,” hissed the knight. “And
remember, the prince has given you orders which you’re to execute to the
letter.”
“It’s you who shouldn’t be teaching me, Count.” The dwarf rested his
handonthedouble-headedaxethrustintohisbelt.“Iknowhowtocarryout
orders,and I can do without your advice.Allow me, Geralt sir. I’m Dennis
Cranmer,captainofPrinceHereward’sguards.”
The witcher bowedstiffly, lookinginto the dwarfs eyes,light gray and
steel-likebeneaththebushyflaxeneyebrows.
“StandyourgroundwithTailles,sir,”DennisCranmercontinuedcalmly.
“It’llbebetterthatway.It’snotafighttothedeath,onlyuntiloneofyouis
renderedhelpless.Sofightinthefieldandlethimrenderyouhelpless.”
“Ibegyourpardon?”
“SirTaillesistheprince’sfavorite,” saidFalwick,smilingspitefully.“If
you touch him with your saber during the fight, you mutant, you will be
punished.CaptainCranmerwillarrestyouandtakeyoutofacehisHighness.
Tobepunished.Thosearehisorders.”
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The dwarf didn’t even glance at the knight; his cold, steel eyes did not
leaveGeralt.
Thewitchersmiledfaintlybutquitenastily.“IfIunderstandcorrectly,”he
said,“I’mtofighttheduelbecause,ifIrefuse,I’llbehanged.IfIfight,I’mto
allow my opponent toinjure mebecause if I wound him, I’ll be put to the
rack. What charming alternatives. Maybe Ishouldsave you the bother? I’ll
thump my head against the pine tree and render myself helpless. Will that
grantyousatisfaction?”
“Don’t sneer,” hissed Falwick. “Don’t make your situation any worse.
You’veinsultedtheOrder,youvagabond,andyouhavetobepunishedforit;
doyouunderstand?AndyoungTaillesneedsthefameofdefeatingawitcher,
sotheChapterwantstogiveittohim.Otherwiseyou’dbehangingalready.
Youallowyourselftobedefeatedandyousaveyourmiserablelife.Wedon’t
careaboutyourcorpse;wewantTaillestonickyourskin.Andyourmutant
skinhealsquickly.So,goahead.Decide.You’vegotnochoice.”
“That’s what you think, is it, sir?” Geralt smiled even more nastily and
lookedaroundatthesoldiersappraisingly.“ButIthinkIdo.”
“Yes,that’strue,”admittedDennisCranmer.“Youdo.Butthenthere’llbe
bloodshed,greatbloodshed.LikeatBlaviken.Isthatwhatyouwant?Doyou
wanttoburdenyourconsciencewithbloodanddeath?Becausethealternative
you’rethinkingof,Geralt,isbloodanddeath.”
“Your argument is charming, Captain, fascinating even,” mocked
Dandilion. “You’re trying to bait a man ambushed in the forest with
humanitarianism, calling on his nobler feelings. You’re asking him, as I
understand,todeignnottospillthebloodofthebrigandswhoattackedhim.
He’s to take pity on the thugs because the thugs are poor, have got wives,
childrenand,whoknows,maybeevenmothers.Butdon’tyouthink,Captain
Cranmer,thatyourworryingispremature?BecauseIlookatyourlancersand
seethattheirkneesareshakingattheverythoughtoffightingwithGeraltof
Rivia,the witcherwhodealtwitha strigaalone,withhisbarehands.There
won’tbeanybloodshedhere;nobodywillbeharmedhere—asidefromthose
whomightbreaktheirlegsrunningaway.”
“I,” said the dwarf calmly and pugnaciously, “have nothing to reproach
mykneeswith.I’veneverrunawayfromanyoneandI’mnotabouttochange
myways.I’m not married,don’tknowanything about anychildrenandI’d
prefer not to bring my mother, a woman with whom I’m not very well
acquainted,intothis.ButIwillcarryoutthe ordersI’vebeengiven.Tothe
letter, as always. Without calling on any feelings, I ask Geralt of Rivia to
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make a decision. I will accept whatever he decides and will behave
accordingly.”
Theylookedeachotherintheeyes,thedwarfandthewitcher.
“Verywell,”Geraltsaidfinally.“Let’sdealwithit.It’sapitytowastethe
day.”
“Youagree,then.”Falwickraisedhisheadandhiseyesglistened.“You’ll
fightaduelwiththehighbornTaillesofDorndal?”
“Yes.”
“Good.Prepareyourself.”
“I’mready.”Geraltpulledonhisgauntlets.“Let’snotwastetime.There’ll
behellifNennekefindsoutaboutthis.Solet’ssortitoutquickly.Dandilion,
keepcalm.It’sgotnothingtodowithyou.AmIright,Cranmer,sir?”
“Absolutely,”thedwarfstatedfirmlyandlookedatFalwick.“Absolutely,
sir.Whateverhappens,itonlyconcernsyou.”
Thewitchertooktheswordfromhisback.
“No,” said Falwick, drawing his. “You’re not going to fight with that
razorofyours.Takemysword.”
Geraltshrugged.Hetookthecount’sbladeandswipedittotryitout.
“Heavy,”hesaidcoldly.“Wecouldjustaseasilyusespades.”
“Tailleshasthesame.Equalchances.”
“You’reveryfunny,Falwick.”
Thesoldierssurroundedtheglade,formingaloosecircle.Taillesandthe
witcherstoodfacingeachother.
“Tallies?Whatdoyousaytoanapology?”
Theyoungknightscreweduphislips,foldedhisleftarmbehindhisback
andfrozeinafencingposition.
“No?” Geralt smiled. “You don’t want to listen to the voice of reason?
Pity.”
Tailles squatted down, leapt and attacked without warning. The witcher
didn’t even make an effort to parry and avoided the flat point with a swift
half-turn. The knight swiped broadly. The blade cut through the air once
more.Geraltdodgedbeneathitinanagilepirouette,jumpedsoftlyasideand,
with a short, light feint, threw Tailles off his rhythm. Tailles cursed, cut
broadly from the right, lost his balance for a moment and tried to regain it
while,instinctively,clumsily,holdinghisswordhightodefendhimself.The
witcherstruckwiththespeedandforceofalightningbolt,extendinghisarm
to its full length and slashing straight ahead. The heavy sword thundered
againstTailles’blade,deflectingitsohardithittheknightintheface.Tailles
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howled,felltohiskneesandtouchedthegrasswithhisforehead.
Falwickranuptohim.
Geraltdughisswordintothegroundandturnedaround.
“Hey,guards!”yelledFalwick,gettingup.“Takehim!”
“Standstill!Toyourplaces!”growledDennisCranmer,touchinghisaxe.
Thesoldiersfroze.
“No,Count,”thedwarfsaidslowly.“Ialwaysexecuteorderstotheletter.
ThewitcherdidnottouchTailles.Thekidhithimselfwithhisowniron.His
hardluck.”
“Hisfaceisdestroyed!He’sdisfiguredforlife!”
“Skin heals.” Dennis Cranmer fixed his steel eyes on the witcher and
bared his teeth. “And the scar? For a knight, a scar is a commendable
reminder,areasonforfameandglory,whichtheChaptersodesiredforhim.
Aknightwithoutascarisaprick,notaknight.Askhim,Count,andyou’ll
seethathe’spleased.”
Tailles was writhing on the ground, spitting blood, whimpering and
wailing;hedidn’tlookpleasedintheleast.
“Cranmer!”roaredFalwick,tearinghisswordfromtheground,“you’llbe
sorryforthis,Iswear!”
The dwarf turned around, slowly pulled the axe from his belt, coughed
andspatintohispalm.“Oh,Count,sir,”herasped.“Don’tperjureyourself.I
can’tstand perjurers and Prince Hereward hasgiven methe rightto punish
them.I’llturnadeafeartoyourstupidwords.Butdon’trepeatthem,ifyou
please.”
“Witcher.”Falwick,puffingwithrage,turnedtoGeralt.“Getyourselfout
ofEllander.Immediately.Withoutamoment’sdelay!”
“Irarelyagreewithhim,”mutteredDennis,approachingthewitcherand
returninghissword,“butinthiscasehe’sright.I’drideoutprettyquick.”
“We’ll do as you advise.” Geralt slung the belt across his back. “But
beforethat,Ihavewordsforthecount.Falwick!”
TheKnightoftheWhiteRoseblinkednervouslyandwipedhispalmson
hiscoat.
“Let’s just goback to your Chapters code for aminute,” continued the
witcher,tryingnottosmile.“Onethingreallyinterestsme.IfI,letussay,felt
disgustedandinsultedbyyourattitudeinthiswholeaffair,ifIchallengedyou
to the sword right now, what would you do? Would you consider me
sufficientlyworthy to cross bladeswith?Orwouldyou refuse, even though
youknewthatbydoingsoIwouldtakeyoutobeunworthyeventobespat
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on, punched in the face and kicked in the arse under the eyes of the foot
soldiers?CountFalwick,besograciousastosatisfymycuriosity.”
Falwickgrewpale,tookastepback,lookedaround.Thesoldiersavoided
his eyes. Dennis Cranmer grimaced, stuck his tongue out and sent a jet of
salivaafairdistance.
“Eventhoughyou’renotsayinganything,”continuedGeralt,“Icanhear
the voice of reason in your silence, Falwick, sir. You’ve satisfied my
curiosity;nowI’llsatisfyyours.IftheOrderbothersMotherNennekeorthe
priestessesin anyway,or undulyintrudesupon CaptainCranmer,then may
youknow,Count,thatI’llfindyouand,notcaringaboutanycode,willbleed
youlikeapig.”
Theknightgrewevenpaler.
“Don’tforgetmypromise,Count.Comeon,Dandilion.It’stimeforusto
leave.Takecare,Dennis.”
“Goodluck,Geralt.”Thedwarfgaveabroadsmile.“Takecare.I’mvery
pleasedtohavemetyou,andhopewe’llmeetagain.”
“Thefeeling’smutual,Dennis.”
Theyrodeawaywithostensibleslowness,notlookingback.Theybegan
tocanteronlyoncetheywerehiddenbytheforest.
“Geralt,” the poet said suddenly, “surely we won’t head straight south?
We’llhavetomakeadetourtoavoidEllanderandHereward’slands,won’t
we?Ordoyouintendtocontinuewiththisshow?”
“No, Dandilion, I don’t. We’ll go through the forests and then join the
Traders’ Trail. Remember, not a word in Nenneke’s presence about this
quarrel.Notaword.”
“Weareridingoutwithoutanydelay,Ihope?”
“Immediately.”
273
II
Geralt leaned over, checked the repaired hoop of his stirrup and fitted the
stirrup leather, still stiff, smelling of new skins and hard to buckle. He
adjustedthesaddle-girth,thetravelbags,thehorseblanketrolledupbehind
thesaddleandthesilverswordstrappedtoit.Nennekewasmotionlessnextto
him,herarmsfolded.
Dandilionapproached,leadinghisbaygelding.
“Thankyou for the hospitality, Venerable One,” he said seriously. “And
don’tbeangrywithmeanymore.Iknowthat,deepdown,youlikeme.”
“Indeed,” agreed Nenneke without smiling. “I do, you dolt, although I
don’tknowwhymyself.Takecare.”
“Solong,Nenneke.”
“Solong,Geralt.Lookafteryourself.”
Thewitcherssmilewassurly.
“Iprefertolookafterothers.Itturnsoutbetterinthelongrun.”
Fromthetemple,frombetweencolumnsentwinedwithivy,Iolaemerged
inthecompanyoftwoyoungerpupils.Shewascarryingthewitcherssmall
chest.Sheavoidedhiseyesawkwardlyandhertroubledsmilecombinedwith
theblushonherfreckled,chubbyfacemadeacharmingpicture.Thepupils
accompanying her didn’t hide their meaningful glances and barely stopped
themselvesfromgiggling.
“For Great Melitele’s sake,” sighed Nenneke, “an entire parting
procession.Take the chest,Geralt. I’ve replenished your elixirs.You’ve got
everything that was in short supply. And that medicine, you know the one.
Takeitregularlyfortwoweeks.Don’tforget.It’simportant.”
“Iwon’t.Thanks,Iola.”
Thegirlloweredherheadandhandedhimthechest.Shesowantedtosay
something.Shehadno idea what ought to be said, what words ought to be
used. She didn’t know what she’d say, even if she could. She didn’t know.
Andyetshesomuchwantedto.
Theirhandstouched.
Blood. Blood. Blood. Bones like broken white sticks. Tendons like
whitish cords exploding from beneath cracking skin cut by enormous paws
bristling with thorns, and sharp teeth. The hideous sound of torn flesh, and
shouting—shamelessandhorrifyinginitsshamelessness.Theshamelessness
oftheend.Ofdeath.Bloodandshouting.Shouting.Blood.Shouting—
274
“Iola!”
Nenneke, with extraordinary speed considering her girth, rushed to the
girl lying onthe ground, shakenby convulsions, and held her down by her
shoulders and hair. One of the pupilsstood as ifparalyzed, the other, more
clearheaded,kneltonIola’slegs.Iolaarchedherback,openedhermouthina
soundless,mutecry.
“Iola!”Nennekeshouted.“Iola!Speak!Speak,child!Speak!”
The girl stiffened even more, clenched her jaws, and a thin trickle of
blood ran down her cheek. Nenneke, growing red with the effort, shouted
somethingwhichthe witcher didn’tunderstand, but his medalliontuggedat
hisnecksohardthathewasforcedtobendunderthepressureofitsinvisible
weight.
Iolastilled.
Dandilion, pale as a sheet, sighed deeply. Nennekeraised herself to her
kneesandstoodwithaneffort.
“Take heraway,”shesaidto thepupils.Therewere more ofthemnow;
they’dgathered,graveandsilent.
“Takeher,”repeatedthepriestess,“carefully.Anddon’tleaveheralone.
I’llbethereinaminute.”
SheturnedtoGeralt.Thewitcherwasstandingmotionless,fiddlingwith
thereinsinhissweatyhands.
“Geralt…Iola—”
“Don’tsayanything,Nenneke.”
“Isawit,too…foramoment.Geralt,don’tgo.”
“I’vegotto.”
“Didyousee…didyouseethat?”
“Yes.Andnotforthefirsttime.”
“And?”
“There’snopointinlookingoveryourshoulder.”
“Don’tgo,please.”
“I’vegotto.SeetoIola.Solong,Nenneke.”
The priestess slowly shook her head, sniffed and, in an abrupt move,
wipedatearawaywithherwrist.
“Farewell,”shewhispered,notlookinghimintheeye.
275
276
277
278
279
TableofContents
TheLastWish 3
TheVoiceOfReason1 5
I 6
1.TheWitcher 7
I 8
II 11
III 18
IV 22
V 26
VI 29
VII 34
VIII 36
TheVoiceOfReason2 37
I 38
II 41
2.AGrainOfTruth 44
I 45
II 48
III 64
IV 65
V 66
TheVoiceOfReason3 73
I 74
3.TheLesserEvil 78
I 79
II 83
III 93
IV 99
V 106
VI 108
TheVoiceOfReason4 114
I 115
280
4.AQuestionOfPrice 119
I 120
II 123
III 149
TheVoiceOfReason5 153
I 154
5.TheEdgeOfTheWorld 160
I 161
II 167
III 171
IV 175
V 183
VI 187
VII 199
TheVoiceOfReason6 202
I 203
6.TheLastWish 209
I 210
II 215
III 219
IV 224
V 229
VI 237
VII 243
VIII 251
IX 255
X 256
XI 257
XII 258
XIII 259
XIV 260
XV 262
XVI 263
XVII 265
TheVoiceOfReason7 267
281
I 268
II 274
CleanCovers 276
282